Division Victors:

AFC NORTH: Cincinnati Bengals

AFC SOUTH: Indianapolis Colts

AFC WEST: San Diego Chargers

AFC EAST: New England Patriots

NFC NORTH: Minnesota Vikings

NFC SOUTH: New Orleans Saints

NFC WEST: Arizona Falcons

NFC EAST: Dallas Cowboys

AFC Wildcard: Baltimore Ravens & New York Jets

NFC Wildcard: Green Bay Packers & Philadelphia Eagles

TOP 10 PICKS IN THE 2010 NFL DRAFT:

1. St. Louis Rams

2. Detroit Lions

3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4. Washington Redskins

5. Kansas City Chiefs

6. Seattle Seahawks

7. Cleveland Browns

8. Oakland Raiders

9. Buffalo Bills

10. Jacksonville Jaguars/Denver Broncos (Denver acquired pick from Chicago via trade) – Ownership of the 10th pick is dependent on a coin toss at a later date.

Player of the Season

Chris Johnson -New Orleans wouldn’t be in the playoffs without Drew Brees, neither would the Colts sans Manning, but this isn’t a most valuable player award. My player of the season is the guy who, regardless of the fortunes of his team, played like a God. Damn. MAN! Whilst seccond year backs like Steve Slaton and Matt Forte fell into the shuffle, Chris Johnson was a weak officiating decision (which called back a long TD scarper) away from breaking Eric Dickerson’s single season rushing record. Oh well, 2000 yards isn’t a bad consolation. Amazing.

Under the Radar Player of the Season

Jonathan Stewart – Honorable mentions go to Sedrick Ellis, who we discovered was the linchpin in New Orleans’ whole run stop unit, and Lousaka Polite, who lead blocked the Wildcat into effectiveness, made pivotal plays in the passing game, consitently converted important short yardage situations and generally went about being a man when no one was looking, but the winner is South Carolina’s JStew. Simply for performing after many damned his season before it even started after nasty achilles and back injuries he deserves his recognition, but consider this; when DeAngelo Williams wasn’t able to go and Stewart was handed the full compliment of 15+carries (6 times in 2009), on all but 1 occasion Stewart repayed the faith with 100 yards – the lone contest he didn’t, he gave Carolina a pair of touchdowns instead. 1100 yards and 10 TDs from an injury ravaged backup; hats off.

Here’s how the NFL looks at the end of 17 weeks:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		14-2	-	On their day Indy are the best team in the NFL, period. Super Bowl, right? 2 consecutive defeats, no meaningful snaps, bitter dissapointment and heavy criticism over missing on an unbeaten season and a bye week to mull it all, make this an uphill challenge for Jim Caldwell’s Colts. Playoff Potential: Bye Week Busts
2		13-3	-	San Diego are hot. They pushed until all but the final half of their final game and momentum is on their side. There are more skilled defenses out their, but I don’t see many more explosive offenses. Playoff Potential: Super Bowl Contenders
3		12-4	2	Minnesota are dead lucky a New Orleans capitulation seured them home field advantage, because they sure as hell can’t win on the road. Playoff Potential: Championship Road-game Rejection
4		10-6	-	The Bengals just have a knack for winning, but their shaky offense might get exposed when asked to bang with the likes of Rivers and Manning. Playoff Potential: Divisional Losers
5		13-3	2	What’s worse than not playing and losing (see: Colts, Indianapolis)? Playing a little badly… then being benched and still losing. New Orleans are flat and would probablu sacrifice their early season muster for a competitive game this weekend. Playoff Potential: First Round Exit
6		11-5	3	Green Bay, like San Diego, have momentum on their side. Oh and really, really good football team to boot. Playoff Potential: Super Bowl Bound
7		11-5	1	Tony Romo is playing the ball of his life, but it’s the Cowboys… in the playoffs. Uh oh… Playoff Potential: One and Done or Super Bowl Material? Not even god knows.
8		11-5	1	Philadelphia capitulated against Dallas who have the mental edge of home field advantage and a pair of regular season victories. This is a huge ask for Philly. Playoff Potential: Victim of a Dallas Triple Crown
9		10-6	1	There’s a good team waiting to burst out – ala 2008 – but with Green Bay in front of them, they might not get the chance to. Playoff Potential: Lights Out
10		10-6	4	No Welker = Disfunctional offense supporsted by mediocre defense. Playoff Potential: Trouble abound
11		9-7	-	Only the Jets boast a quality run defense on the AFC side of the playoffs, so if Baltimore stick to the gameplan (Ray Rice), they may see success. Playoff Potential: Dark Horses
12		9-7	8	Backdoor enterance spells trouble, but, like Baltimore, the lak of quality run stoppers is a good omen for their rush heavy offense. Playoff Potential: Extremely (stress the extremely) Dark Horses
13		8-8	1	Their season opened with personnel mishandles by Josh McDaniels, and by benching 3 starters, their year has ended the same way: dismally.
14		9-7	1	Houston have fantastic talent, but not the guts to convert it. Maybe a fresh head coach would allow them to capitalize and enter the playoffs where they belong in 2010.
15		9-7	1	Pitt missed Troy Polomalu badly. Serious upgrades at corner are needed, and a youthful upgrade to James Harrison wouldn’t go amiss.
16		8-8	1	Tennessee’s pass rush is old and, frankly, not that good. A dynamic pass rush threat like Derrick Morgan would fit the mould.
17		8-8	-	Carolina will see three key starters (Jordan Gross, Maake Kemoeatu, and Antony Davis) return in 2010, and they return to a decent side in need of depth up front.
18		7-9	-	Chad Henne is a franchise quarterback, but Ronnie Brown still looks frail. A change of pace back to replace the ageing Ricky Williams (Jerious Norwood), and a dominant nose tackle are needed.
19		9-7	-	Ras-I Dowling owns a bitching name and may go some way to solving Atlanta’s woes at corner.
20		8-8	5	This team isn’t this bad, but lost discipline badly during the final run in. Ahmad Bradshaw needs to be installed as the starter and a defensive tackle upgrade like Domato Peko would be a serious coup.
21		7-9	-	Jacksonville need a new coach in place, and even if I doubt his NFL readyness, the business cash in of having Floridian idol Tim Tebow at the reigns might be too alluring for the ailing Jaguar money men.
22		4-12	-	Zorn out. Shanahan in. So does he trade Portis ala Denver and build a run heavy unit around a new QB (Campbell is a free agent and Sam Bradford should be on the board)?
23		8-8	-	Alex Smith has somehow turned his career around and is a funnctional signal caller, whilst Vernon Davis and Michael Crabtree will mature no end in 2010. Frank Gore even looks decent on occasion, so Mike Singletary’s focus has to be the defenseive and offensive lines.
24		7-9	-	Jay Cutler hasn’t looked half bad in recent weeks and a new safety, corner, defensive end, depth at linebacker and youth at the tackle positions would right the Chicago ship. Not too much to ask really!
25		6-10	-	This is where things get sticky: Buffalo will have a new coach in place which means a new quarterback. With Locker in school and Clausen off the board, the Bills, Browns, Redskins, Seahawks and Raiders are all squabling over the same position.
26		5-11	1	Jake Locker returning to school and a late season resurgance really screwed Cleveland who might turn to a veteran like Jason Campbell once a new head coach is inevitably installed.
27		5-11	1	Russell is done. Bring on Ryan Mallet. A canon armed unpolished prospect… what could possibly go wrong?!
28		3-13	2	Tampa suck up front, and there happen to be a lot of quality free agents and 2 standout rookie defensive tackles in Suh and McCoy available this offseason. Lucky much?
29		5-11	-	Walter Jones is a hall of famer, but Seattle have to draft left tackle now, and pray that Matt Hasselbeck can hold it together at least 1 more year. Up Next: Tennessee Titans
30		4-12	-	Kansas City are in prime position to trade, with Denver, Buffalo, Cleveland, Washington, Seattle and Oakland all looking to vault one another to secure a quarterback. That said, adding Eric Berry would solidify this secondary as the best young group in the league.
31		2-14	-	Stafford and CJ need to continue fostering a bond, and with the second selection they’re in the perfect position to put their run stopping issues to bed once and for all with the monstrous Ndamukong Suh.
32		1-15	-	Jimmy Clausen. There is your pick. Take him. Don’t waiver. Get negotiating NOW St. Louis.

You can expect Cincinnati to rest starters in their final game (which would give the Jets very much a back door into the playoffs), but Dallas/Philadelphia and Green Bay/Arizona are a pair of ontests between top 10 ranked teams that should kick the new year off with a bang. Elsewhere Indy will have the tough trade off between recouperation and momentum; if I was Jim Caldwell I think you field starters for a half minimum, 3 quarters maximum. If Atlanta can put a licking on Buffalo, I wouldn’t be surprised if Manning and co. create some needed carnage that lets them hit the ground running.

Player of the Week

Jonathan Stewart – 28 for 206 yards is an impressive stat line – maybe more impressive is the fact that Stewart effectively ran the length of the field twice and only got in the endzone once – but the performance of JStew (it’ll catch on, trust me) on Sunday, and in the last few weeks in lieu of an injured DeAngelo Williams, have been specctacular. Piling on the pain against former formidable run stop units in the Vikings and Giants, Stewart looked like he picked up an extra 3 yards on every play simply by finishing hard. He also showed a nice second gear to break off a 52 yard game sealing canter and an early 29 yard TD run. What makes his recent form all the more impressive, was the fact that in Carolina’s early contests he suffered with back issues that many thought were would niggle all season, possibly longer. Where the haters at now?

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Hunter Hillenmeyer – Hillenmeyer is quietly having a decent season amidst a torrid Chicago defense in place of the IRed Brian Urlacher (84 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 4 forced fumbles and an INT), but it was his heads up play to make a deliberate attempt to strip the fumble prone Adrian Peterson in overtime that earns him the Under the Radar Performance of the Week. That fumble denied Minnesota a makeable field goal, and one play later Devin AhShowUsWhatYouDo caught a beautifully flighted bomb to, hopefully, put to bed a dismal season on a high note for Chicago.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

Many, including myself, theorised that the emotional investment of their Indy defeat would see the Jags give up. Well, they have. Down 4.

San Diego are in a rich vein of form, New Orleans are not. For the first time in weeks there’s a change in the top 3 as the Chargers and Saints do the flip flop.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 16:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		14-1	-	Was Jim Caldwell right to rest his starters? Eh… there is no definite answer, but put it this way; if one of Manning, Wayne or Clark tore apart their ACL in this contest, then the media outcry would be totally reversed and expanded by orders of magnitude. Resting is the ‘less lose’ scenario of Jim Caldwell’s dilemma. Up Next: @Buffalo Bills
2		12-3	1	San Diego are putting it all together at the right time, and whilst the Colts and Saints have spun their wheels the last 5 weeks (almost as if they felt bad and wanted the rest of the league to catch up), San Diego are red hot and enter the postseason with barrels of momentum. Up Next: Washington Redskins
3		13-2	1	The Saints did everything but execute. Whether is be key third down sacks, stuffed short yard runs or fumbles something prevented New Orleans’ from getting the points they deserved. Up Next: @Carolina Panthers
4		10-5	-	The Bengals don’t win with a lot of style, but they love a big finish, and Carson Palmer’s 99 yard game winning drive was one of their best all year. Up Next: @New York Jets
5		11-4	-	In recent years I’ve become more and more concious of the power of momentum in postseason sports; I.E. it’s really freakin important! But don’t tell Minnesota. Up Next: New York Giants
6		10-5	-	This was one of those contests where New England said “hey; we may not be on top of our game right now, but know that we’ve got a weapon in our franchise that can beat anyone you put in front of us”. His name’s Tom Brady and he’s looking scarily close to full fitness, right in time for a covert playoff run. Up Next: @Houston Texans
7		11-4	-	Philly are electric right now and look like a diet sized version of San Diego. What odds can I get on a Philly/Charger Super Bowl I wonder… Up Next: @Dallas Cowboys
8		10-5	-	2 wins in December, so the curse is lifted? Yeah, maybe. Or alternatively Dallas just suck in the clutch and will bomb in the playoffs becuase of that. What? Too pessimistic? Up Next: Philadelphia Eagles
9		10-5	-	Just like Arizona, there’s no bonus points for beating up nobodies. Both teams need to prove they have what it takes against the big boys of the NFL. Up Next: @Arizona Cardinals
10		10-5	-	Nobody thinks you’re big or clever for beating up the retarded kid. Up Next: Green Bay Packers
11		8-7	-	Baltimore were a Derrick Mason drop from securing their postseason and were also heavily penalized on some contentious officiating decisions. Baltimore, on their day, can hang with the best of them, but unfortunately that Ravens side haven’t showed up with any sort on consistency all year. Up Next: @Oakland Raiders
12		8-7	-	Kyle Orton just doesn’t have the arm to win his team a shootout. All 11 teams ranked above Denver have playmaking signal callers, and that’s the distinction between contention and a first round exit for an overachieving (if stout) Denver outfit. Up Next: Kansas City Chiefs
13		8-7	1	Pittsburgh hang on by their fingertips, but in a bizarre reversal of previous seasons, their offense is playoff calibre whilst their defense would underachieve in the UFL. Up Next: @Miami Panthers
14		8-7	1	What a sorry fall from grace for this perennial Super Bowl contender; gone is their defense, Brandon Jacobs looks dead and Tom Coughlin has totally lost control of this lockeroom. Up Next: @Minnesota Vikings
15		8-7	3	Matt Schaub has shown a worrying penchant for hot starts, and late game lazyness. The weird half time rapid cooldown that he’s undergone in multiple matchups this year almost let Miami back in the game. Up Next: New England Patriots
16		7-8	1	All eyes are now on CJ as Tennessee’s season is over. Up Next: @Seattle Seahawks
17		7-8	4	With Matt Moore (who should start in 2010) at the helm, Carolina are a competant football team. Add in what they’ve lost to injury on defense and Pro Bowl calibre Jordan Gross at left tackle and Carolina might surprise in 2010. Up Next: Carolina Panthers
18		7-8	2	Chad Henne is a quality quarterback. This tight team is an offensive playmaker from the playoffs in 2010. Up Next: Pittsburgh Steelers
19		8-7	-	Fear the wrath of the Atlanta Falcons! Destroyer of Bills! Slayer of terrible offensive lines and paper thin secondaries! Up Next: @Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20		8-7	-	‘Jets End Indy’s Race for Perfection’ is a nice headline, but this is a team one week removed from imploding against the Falcons and are hanging their hat on beating up a bunch of Indianapolis offcuts. Up Next: Cincinnati Bengals
21		7-8	4	I don’t understand why Jacksonville refuse to give MJD the ball. David Garrard is a tight quarterback, but in the last few games he’s been blighted by terrible overthrows on critical downs. Up Next: @Cleveland Browns
22		4-11	-	Washington clawed their way back onto the map of relevance… the last two games have seen them plummit off it again. Good job, no job Jim Zorn. Up Next: @San Diego Chargers
23		7-8	-	Am I the only one still bemused by Frank Gore’s ability to run between the tackles? 28 for 71 is not a successful outing against Detroit, and blip performances like this appear more often than not for the thankfully versatile (he caught 4 for 81) Gore. Up Next: @St. Louis Rams
24		6-9	1	I hope an exciting, Monday night shootout doesn’t put any gloss on a dead donkey year for Chicago. Up Next: @Detroit Lions
25		5-10	1	I don’t want to critique Buffalo too harshly because the history of 1 week prepped practice squad quarterbacks is hardly storied. Up Next: Indianapolis Colts
26		3-12	1	Raheem Morris will likely lose his job, but he’s made some astute decisions  that many of his bottom ranked brethren would undoubtedly have failed to spot (his timing of Josh Freeman’s introduction was solid). Running hard on a soft Saints underbelly is simplistic genius that so many fail to grasp. Up Next: Atlanta Falcons
27		4-11	2	Cleveland, to their credit, have turned it around in recent weeks. Still… FIRE ALL THE COACHES WHO HAVE MANAGED THIS ABOMINATION! Up Next: Jacksonville Jaguars
28		5-10	2	It’s currently neck and neck in the race for the “why do you make me believe, only to kick me in the teeth the following week” year end award. The Packers are solid contenders, but the Raiders are making a late season surge after posting an apathetic loss, a week after an impressive victory against Denver. Up Next: Baltimore Ravens
29		5-10	1	I have a dream where Cleveland’s entire offense isn’t based on kick returns and playing the Chiefs each week. What?! A man can dream. Up Next: Tennessee Titans
30		3-12	-	Kansas are… really hard to put your thumb on. They can run the ball better than most, have ballers at wideout and on defense, but a fundamental lack of pressure or protection is leaving them rotting on 3 wins. Up Next: @Denver Broncos
31		2-13	-	Matthew Stafford is now on IR and I almost feel it’s redundant to write anything about a franchise led by Drew Stanton. Oh god… Drew Stanton. *puke* Up Next: Chicago Bears
32		1-14	-	Last week I called Steven Jackson the lone brightspot in the whole of St. Louis. He didn’t play on Sunday; yep, the Rams have nothing. NOTH-ING. Up Next: San Francisco 49ers

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 17.

It’s the job of those who know him better to really say whether he was a changed man, not mine to speculate, but he obviously formed a close bond with the Cincinnati franchise (Carson Palmer likened him to Randy Moss preseason), the people of Ohio and his teammates – evident by the emotionally jarring scenes of Sunday afternoon.

Abstracted from a personal life I’m not at liberty to make judgements on, Chris Henry was an intriguing prospect and player with a promising few seasons ahead of him. As a footballer he will be gravely missed, and massive respect to all involved – including the Bengals on Sunday – for the classy way this tragedy has been handled.

Player of the Week

Anthony Spencer – Nobody will deny that Drew Brees is the driving force behind New Orleans’ season, and in this matchup Spencer eliminated him. 2 huge sacks (he had a 3rd ruled out for a non-incidental infraction elsewhere) and pressure all night was made especially impressive since Spencer was asked to table most of DeMarcus Ware’s (who managed 2 sacks and a forced fumble himself) workload at weakside, with the phenom sidelined for most of this contest. Spencer’s versatility was impressive, and his pressure vital in making Jermon Bushrod look bush league (I’m so sorry, I really am), and the Saints succumb to their first loss.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Jonathan Joseph – We all know Leon Hall is Pro Bowl calibre muscle on one side of the Cincinnati secondary, but this guy is a start in the making as well. Billed at 5’11 he had no easy task handling the bullish 6’5 Malcolm Floyd, but he did, masterfully. Yeah Floyd scraped 60 odd yards, but Joseph made a huge play in the redzone, was ferocious in his tackling, supported the run well and mustered his 6 INT of the year. Hats off to you Mr Joseph.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

Getting dummied, at home, by one of the worst teams in the league. Not cool Seattle, not cool.

San Diego move up 3 to (conveniantly) the #3 slot after an emotional victory on Sunday against a proper tough opposition.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 15:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		14-0	-	Peyton Manning’s 12 for 12, 116 yard, 2 TD first half was a thing of beauty. Had Dallas Clark not batted a ball in the air for a Jaguar INT, Manning may still be completing passes as you read this. Up Next: New York Jets
2		13-1	-	Suck ‘em in and burn ‘em deep. Without Sed Ellis up front New Orleans were a sieve against the run, opening up the game for a red hot Tony Romo to torch their secondary. It was a nice run that maybe was a little lucky to last this long. Up Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3		11-3	3	With Denver, Kansas and Oakland putting up such mediocre fights in the last few years, San Diego perennially boasted 6 wins at a canter. Norv Turner has struggled in the ‘big game’ meaning he’s the only double digit win regular to have not made a Super Bowl in recent memory. Wins over Dallas and now Cincinnati are a slap in the face to this theory. Up Next: @Tennessee Titans
4		9-5	-	The criticism was that Carson Palmer didn’t have ‘it’ anymore. The intangible factor that seperates the Hennes from the Mannings, but on Sunday Palmer had ‘it’ and more… he just didn’t have a defense that could stop Malcolm Floyd from icing the clock, giving Nick Kaeding the time needed to find the H. Up Next: Kansas City Chiefs
5		11-3	2	Cedric Benson almost broke 100 last week, but Jonathan Stewart picked up where Ced left off. Gone is the IRed EJ Henderson and the impenetrable Williams wall; Minnesota allowed its first 100 yard rusher in 36 contests. The wheels are starting to fall off… Up Next: @Chicago Bears
6		9-5	1	New England may have been missing a host of starters along both lines, but nothing can excuse their uninspiring limp over the line in both this game, and their season. Up Next: Jacksonville Jaguars
7		10-4	2	Philadelphia clinched a wildcard spot, but I doubt they’ll need if they keep putting in carving performances like they did on Sunday. Up Next: Denver Broncos
8		9-5	1	Nick Folk can’t kick and Flozell Adams can’t pass protect, but a feasting pass rush and lights out quarterback performance got Dallas a vital win. Up Next: @Washington Redskins
9		9-5	1	If you dare believe in Green Bay for a fraction of a second they’ll kick you in the teeth. I’d say ‘fool me once…’ but this must be the millionth time they’ve flattered to deceive in 09. Up Next: Seattle Seahawks
10		9-5	-	Maybe Kurt Warner wanted Detroit to win so St. Louis can draft #1. I don’t know, but he tried his hardest with multiple pickable balls. Fortunately for Arizona, a maturing Beanie Wells had other ideas (17 for 110, 1 TD) Up Next: St. Louis Rams
11		8-6	1	Baltimore got every result in their favour this weekend, and saw their offense continue to resurge after a lacklustre midseason. Good times. Up Next: @Pittsburgh Steelers
12		8-6	1	This game went on hiatus midway through because a fan was shining a lazer at players. Here’s hoping that idiot got hit by a train on the way home. Up Next: @Philadelphia Eagles
13		8-6	-	New York decided to turn on the burners as they torched Washington for 45 points, 5 sacks and 3 turnovers. Too little to late methinks… Up Next: Carolina Panthers
14		7-7	-	Ben Roethlisberger threw for 500+ yards and a miracle play touchdown. Well… maybe he wouldn’t have to throw so much if this defense wasn’t atrocious and soft as butter in the middle. Up Next: Baltimore Ravens
15		7-7	-	Tennessee were just too far back to ever really threaten January, but hey, you got to be in it to win it, and no one else seems to want the second AFC wildcard place. Up Next: San Diego Chargers
16		7-7	-	Chad Henne was good… but threw picks when he couldn’t afford to. Ricky Williams was good… but fumbled when he couldn’t afford to. Sense a pattern? It’s called missed opportunities and an almost certain playoff-less 2010. Up Next: Houston Texans
17		7-7	-	Jacksonville’s game of the year is likely their last. I think it’ll be very tough for this team to pick itself up, despite saving their best stuff till last. Take solace in the fact that this is a young team that is only 2 or 3 additions from being a nailed on playoff contender. Up Next: @New England Patriots
18		7-7	1	Endzone drops and redzone fumbles tarnished the scoreboard of an otherwise dominant display. Up Next: Jacksonville Jaguars
19		7-7	1	No, no, no. Atlanta didn’t WIN, New York LOST. Up Next: Buffalo Bills
20		7-7	2	New York beat themselves. Mark Sanchez tossed nasty picks, whilst their field goal unit looked clueless; blundering on 3 seperate occasions. Up Next: @Indianapolis Colts
21		6-8	2	Early on this year Jonathan Stewart was labelled as injury prone and likely to be bothered by niggles all year. He just rushed for 100 yards on the Vikings. This guy can ball. Up Next: @New York Giants
22		4-10	1	Washington have picked up a little in recent weeks on offense, so I’m left bemused as to why in an ‘anything goes’ division tilt they should revert to playing the dross that plagued them weeks 1 through 10. Up Next: Dallas Cowboys
23		6-8	1	Offenses live or die on 3rd downs and turnovers. San Fran were 0 and 11 and had 4. Hence, their playoff hopes died. Up Next: Detroit Lions
24		5-9	2	Buffalo had more offensive yards than New Enlgand and were a Josh Reed drop from tying up the game, Fred Jackson even ran the ball well (15 for 80). So why did they fail? Well the fact that Buffalo benched Ryan Fitzpatrick at the half and then unbenched him when Trent Edwards blew up his knee shows is indicative of how this is one of the worst quarterbacking situations in the league. Up Next: @Atlanta Falcons
25		5-9	-	Chicago are counting down the days till the end of the season. When will this nightmare end?!. Up Next: Minnesota Vikings
26		5-9	1	Somehow Oakland stopped the production of an underated Bronco tailback troupe, and won with JaMarcus Russell playing as the last man standing after a Charlie Frye injury. Yeah… I have no idea either. Up Next: @Cleveland Browns
27		2-12	1	It pains me tow move a team with 2 wins this high, and they’ll likely finish in the bottom 3 as far as final records go, but there is a something about Tampa that screams light at the end of the tunnel. Up Next: @New Orleans Saints
28		5-9	4	The mystique of QWEST field is gone, Matt Hasselbeck’s back is done, Julius Jones is marginally inferior to me right now and their secondary is one of the worst of all time. Too much? Up Next: @Green Bay Packers
29		3-11	1	I have a dream where Cleveland’s entire offense isn’t based on kick returns and playing the Chiefs each week. What?! A man can dream. Up Next: Oakland Raiders
30		3-11	1	On their brightest offensive display of the season, it was Kansas City’s defense and special teams that opted to capitulate. Seriously dudes. 286 yards rushing and a pair of kickoff TDs?! Up Next: @Cincinnati Bengals
31		2-12	-	Detroit are almost unrankable right now, because until Megatron and Stafford are in the lineup together this franchise is spinning its wheels. Up Next: @San Francisco 49ers
32		1-13	-	Other than Steven Jackson and James Laurainitis, I can’t find a single good point about this franchise. Up Next: @Arizona Cardinals

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 16.

How much talent is their in the NFL outside of the those 8 top dogs? Arizona? The same Cardinals team that just succumbed to an abject 49ers? How about Baltimore? A team that has no offense against anyone who tackles better than me. I love it as usual, but the NFL really sucks this year.

Player of the Week

Andre Johnson and Brandon Marshall – Tough to seperate an 11 for 193 2 TD beast, and a 21 for 200 and another 2 TDs surehanded erm… beast. Get used to the names because these two will be dominating the NFL landscape for the next 5 years.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Chad Henne – Very quietly Chad Henne is assuming the role of an NFL calibre quarterback, and he’s right on the verge of transitioning from game manager to game winner. His 21 of 29 for 220 (albeit with a nasty pick thrown in) was an efficient effort that should put a smile on Tunafin fans.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

If there was a year that Pittsburgh were going to go off the boil and yet still make the playoffs, this was it. The AFC sucks, and by dropping them 7 I hope I’ve shown that Pittsburgh are firmly stationed within that mire of suck.

Green Bay jump 3 and with a number 1 ranked defense to backup one of the best quarterbacks in the league, Green Bay are very much the team to avoid in the 09 postseason.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 14:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		13-0	-	As Brandon Marshall went about setting NFL records, Indianapolis went about WINNING THE GODAMN GAME! Focus people. 22 and 0. Up Next: @Jacksonville Jaguars
2		13-0	-	New Orleans aren’t bathing themselves in glory, but Drew Brees is on a different planet right now so frankly, it really doesn’t matter.  Up Next: Dallas Cowboys
3		11-2	-	This was an excellent performance to steady the ship after an uncharacteristic loss. Maybe a red hot Green Bay has lit a fire in their hearts. Up Next: @Carolina Panthers
4		9-4	-	With the Williams Wall putting the dampers on Ced Ben (he performed admirably under the circumstances), Carson Palmer was asked to throw. The lack of a pass catching back, tight end, or number 2 receiver was his downfall in this game, and possibly their season if no one steps up. Up Next: @San Diego Chargers
5		8-5	-	This was a bad day at the office. I don’t want to doom monger, so move along. Next! Up Next: @Buffalo Bills
6		10-3	-	Dallas played some tough D early, but yet again Vincent Jackson and Philip Rivers put on a show that no secondary in the league could interupt. Up Next: Cincinnati Bengals
7		9-4	2	Here’s hoping DeSean Jackson has matured into the trusted hands Donovan McNabb so badly needs. It is Christmas afterall, so what’s the chance of a double miracle and Brian Westbrook returns in week 15? Up Next: San Francisco 49ers
8		9-4	3	Green Bay’s protection issues reared their head again after a string of solid games, but if that was just an off day from a fixed front line then Green Bay are looking good to cause some damage deep into the playoffs. Up Next: @Pittsburgh Steelers
9		8-5	1	What more can be said? Dallas suck in December, San Diego are awesome in not just that month, but most of the year really. Up Next: @New Orleans Saints
10		8-5	-	Way to take a two steps forward and ten steps back. A costly loss in San Fran opens the door for a needless divisional battle. Up Next: @Detroit Lions
11		8-5	1	Denver put together a multitude of slick drives but championship contenders turn those yards into 7. Denver just found out why they won’t be in the Super Bowl come the new year. Up Next: Oakland Raiders
12		7-6	1	It’s a pity that it takes Detroit’s tackle adverse defense to kick start this offense; let’s hope there’s some reality to a dominating performance. Up Next: Chicago Bears
13		7-6	1	New York showed some spark but they still came up short in a contest that would of thrusted them right back into NFC East contention. Up Next: @Washington Redskins
14		6-7	7	Pittsburgh’s season is all but over, which will doubly sting since the Bengals are fading just as badly. Up Next: Green Bay Packers
15		6-7	1	I guess someone has to finish second in the AFC South. Maybe Jacksonville, Houston and Tennessee could work out some sort of rotation rota for the postseason. They’ll have the time because NONE OF THEM WILL BE THERE! Up Next: Miami Dolphins
16		7-6	1	Miami are a very tight side that is no longersupported by a gimmick offense, given their winnable schedule (Tennessee, Houston and Pitt) Miami are my dark horses for the second AFC wildcard place behind Denver. Up Next: @Tennessee Titans
17		7-6	2	As soon as I show them respect and move them up 4 they go and capitulate like they did on Sunday. What are you doing to me Jack Del Rio?!. Up Next: Indianapolis Colts
18		7-6	-	If you’re a mediocre team or less, see the Jets for a hiding. All the rest are to report to the win column. Up Next: Atlanta Falcons
19		6-7	-	Explosive, young and dominant on their day; sentiments that can describe Andre Johnson and the Texans in general. Unfortunately for both, neither are likely to see the postseason in 2009. Up Next: @St. Louis Rams
20		6-7	-	Atlanta put on a show in their division, and perhaps were a little unlucky to see a weak interference call and big dropped passes go against them, but hey… this is the Falcons in 2009. Just. Not. Working. Up Next: @New York Jets
21		4-9	-	Washington deserve this win because they’re offense is improving behind a clampdown defense, and frankly 3 wins was a miscarriage of justice. Up Next: New York Giants
22		6-7	1	If the 49ers could have stitched the beggining and the end of their season together then they may be playoff bound, as they are, their only solace is playing in the weakest division in football. Up Next: @Philadelphia Eagles
23		5-8	-	I’m glad that the Panthers have time to call out others for ‘giving up’. 5-8… really speaking from a position of authority Carolina. Up Next: Minnesota Vikings
24		5-8	2	San Francisco are a lifeless franchise who have the tools to win now, but the coaching staff to lose lots. What happened to a team poised for a breakout circa 2007? Up Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
25		5-8	-	Chicago are just too soft on defense to mount a charge, and when Jay Cutler is going to thro lazy picks like he did on Sunday, then they’ll be plenty of opportunities to show this fact off. Up Next: @Baltimore Ravens
26		5-8	-	Buffalo secured an earth shattering victory that secures their position as ‘best of the very worse’ in the TPS Power Rankings. Up Next: New England Patriots
27		4-9	-	On the brink of an unwelcome return, all hope of a comeback for JaMarcus Russell’s career were dashed when Charlie Frye was named starter in lieu of the injured Bruce Gradkowski. Considering we know how terible Frye is, that’s a pretty hefty burn on OffThe JaMarkus Russell. Up Next: @Denver Broncos
28		1-12	-	Josh Freeman is slipping in my estimations. He has the tools and shows flashes of touch, but his decision making is horrific. He needs the offseason of a lifetime to become a winning QB in 2010. Up Next: @Seattle Seahawks
29		3-10	-	Kansas City are slowly realising what we all did a year ago; there’s a reason Matt Cassel has been a backup since high school. Up Next: Cleveland Browns
30		2-11	2	Cleveland showed an urgency and vibrancy that secured them their most momentous win in recent years. Unfortunately it means they’ll likely miss out on number 1 overall QB talent in Jimmy Clausen. What’s the reverse of a silver lining? Up Next: @Kansas City Chiefs
31		2-11	1	Insert your ‘coaches’ handbook on how not to tackle’ joke here. Up Next: Arizona Cardinals
32		1-12	1	On one hand the Rams were embaressed again, but on the other a Browns’ victory means St. Louis will likely have first dibs on whatever collegiate talent they want in 2010. Up Next: Houston Texans

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 15.

Rewind 7 years to week 13 of the 2002 season and the story is different:

• 3 players saw over 30 carries (LT, Travis Henry and San Fran’s Garrison Hearst), just Cedric Benson saw 30+ in 2009.
• 17 players were given 20+ carries, whilst in 2009 just 12 offensive coordinators can claim to have employed the same tactic with their star runner.
• Only Joseph Addai and Knowshon Moreno saw redzone induced multiple touchdown work, whilst in 2002 4 players ran for 2 TDs, whilst LT and Hearst went one better with 3.

Running hard seems a dieing art, and if Indy want to rely on Peyton’s cannon that’s fine, but incase you haven’t noticed Philly, Jacksonville, Cleveland, Dallas, San Fran et al you just don’t have that luxury sitting under center.

Player of the Week

Jeremey Bridges – Minnesota are soft in the secondary but Jared Allen just doesn’t give opposing quarterbacks time to find this out. Starting out of position and in place of an injured Mike Gandy, Jeremy Bridges played the game of his life; eradicating the threat of Allen and giving Warner the time needed to inflict the second defeat on an otherwise stellar Minnesota campaign.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Lousaka Polite – Polite converted on fourth and short to keep Miami in the game, and it’s not the first time he’s come up big in 2009. Okay a lone 2 yard run isn’t Chris Johnson’s version of big, but in the clutch and in need of a fresh set of downs Polite has stepped up on multiple ocasions this year.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

If Houston want they could dummy most of the NFL right now, but injuries and poor play calling (seriously? Half back option at the goaline, Gary Kubiak?) have seen them slide to obscurity and #19 in the TPS rankings.

Jacksonville will get bumped from the playoffs in a heartbeat, but like it or loathe it (I’m all about the latter; I find Jacksonville broken on multiple levels), the Jags are sitting pretty in the AFC wildcard chase, so move up 4 out of begrudging respect.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 13:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		12-0	-	Unless Denver have the upset of the year in them, expect Indy to complete 22 consecutive wins next week and nab themselves an NFL record in the process. Up Next: Denver Broncos
2		12-0	-	Robert Meacham stripping a Redskins’ defensive player who was rumbling back a lazy Drew Brees interception; add miracle play to the lengthy list of ‘ways New Orleans find to win…’. Up Next: @Atlanta Falcons
3		10-2	-	Brett Favre was the 16 year old given the keys to a Corvette built out of immaculate protection, a clampdown defense and the league’s premier runner, but when the defense misfires, the run is abandoned and offensive lineman drop like flies, the wheels came off the Favre Corvette to the tune of the Vikings’ second loss. Up Next: Cincinnati Bengals
4		9-3	1	36 carries for Cedric Benson! Ok he didn’t kill the Lions, but I hope the Jags, Chiefs and 49ers were watching because this was the blueprint. If your running back has moves, USE HIM! Up Next: @Minnesota Vikings
5		7-5	1	Tom Brady’s mystery hand injury saw him in and out the lockeroom all afternoon, but the total lack of pressure from New England’s jaded front 7 is why New England are in the two loss doghouse. Up Next: Carolina Panthers
6		9-3	2	The scoreline states otherwise, but Cleveland were never a touchdown away from San Diego, the Chargers just reverted to some sloppy prevent defense for literally the whole fourth quarter. Too easy. Up Next: @Dallas Cowboys
7		6-6	1	Oof. That must have knocked the wind out of you Steeler Nation. The division is out of their hands, and they’ll need to win out to secure against a resurgent Broncos. Up Next: @Cleveland Browns
8		8-4	1	Uh oh… what’s that familiar December feeling? Never has the NFC East been more winnable and yet the annual problem rears its ugly head. Up Next: San Diego Chargers
9		7-4	-	For those who didn’t see the game, but may have been deceived by mainstream media’s fascination with Mike Vick. His two touchdowns were late in the game against a lifeless Atlanta; this guy isn’t, and won’t be, a legit starting quarterback in the NFL. Up Next: @New York Giants
10		8-4	2	Everyone knew the Vikings were vulnerable if you had time to attack their secondary. Arizona gave Warner that time, and it worked wonders to the tune of 142 Larry Fitz yards and a pair of beautiful Boldin TDs. Up Next: @San Francisco 49ers
11		8-4	1	A Donald Drive fumble and flukey interception that saw the ball bounce of Driver’s leg made this closer than it should have been. The Packers have solved their protection issues and their reaping the benefits. Up Next: @Chicago Bears
12		8-4	13	Outside of three Tamba Hali sacks, Denver played a flawless game. The Broncos were hot for 6 games, off for 4 more and they’re on a run of 2 now. Based on past form and complex math, Denver should implode wildcard weekend. Oh crap… Up Next: @Indianapolis Colts
13		6-6	2	Any semblence of a Ravens’ offense was thanks to defensive pass interference calls as Baltimore spectacularly flop to 6 and 6. Up Next: Detroit Lions
14		7-5	2	Offensively New York have nothing right now, but fortunately their defense has woken up just enough to pull them through. Like the Steelers, this will be an uphill battle that starts with a must-win against Philly next week. Up Next: Philadelphia Eagles
15		7-5	4	The Jags refuse to use Maurice Jones-Drew early and often, they refuse to put pressure on opposition quarterbacks, but luckily for Jags fans (yes, all 10 of you) they refuse to lose when the big game beckons. Up Next: Miami Dolphins
16		5-7	2	Their streak is over, but the Titans were actually on top for portions of this game. Nate Washington dropped a huge nailed on touchdown, whilst Vince Young made a bad overthrow in the redzone. The top of the NFL is played measured in inches and if you don’t convert, you will be burnt. Up Next: St. Louis Rams
17		6-6	-	Chad Henne hurled a ridiculous 52 pass attempts of varying quality, but thanks to redzone slip-ups and an ailing Tom Brady, Miami got an unexpected win to keep their hopes alive. Up Next: @Jacksonville Jaguars
18		6-6	-	The Jets somehow need to hurdle Miami, pickup wins against Indy and Cincy and then hope the Steelers and Ravens drop another game each. Then the Jets will gloriously stroll into the AFC offseason. Yeah. That ain’t happening. Up Next: @Tampa Bay Buccaneers
19		5-7	6	Houston just bumped themselves from the playoffs, despite fileding top 10 calibre talent week in week out. Well, when I say field, I mean limp off for the entire first quarter costing them the game. Up Next: Seattle Seahawks
20		6-6	-	Atlanta did nothing with Matt Ryan and Michael Turner, so eradicate them from the lineup and I believe you have a side with negative ability. Up Next: New Orleans Saints
21		3-9	1	Washington are possibly the greatest 3 and 9 team of all time. Their defense made plays on fourth down but for the second time this season Shaun Suisham missed a gimme field goal that would have sealed the deal. Up Next: @Oakland Raiders
22		5-7	3	Seattle look really tepid on offense; afraid to utilise the only offensive weapon to spark this year, Justin Forsett, and paying the price despite registering their 5th win this year. Up Next: Houston Texans
23		5-7	1	Matt Moore. Woo. Seriously, Carolina got lucky; sans D-Will they couldn’t cut Tampa quite like they should have. Up Next: @New England Patriots
24		5-7	3	I don’t know what to make of San Francisco. They’ve hit that awkward point in a franchise’s life when they don’t have glaring holes but they still suck all over. Up Next: Arizona Cardinals
25		5-7	2	Chicago may have won, but they RELIED ON ST. LOUIS RAMS’ MISCUES! Down 2. Just infuriatingly horrible Chicago. Up Next: Green Bay Packers
26		4-8	-	No, no. Hopes were misplaced. If the Jets didn’t drop easy TDs, miss easy throws in the redzone and generally F up their possessions, Buffalo would have been blown out. Up Next: @Kansas City Chiefs
27		4-8	2	From nowhere Bruce Gradkowsi has got this offense clicking. Gradkowski lacks the arm to be a long term starter in the NFL, and JaMarcus doesn’t work, so… with a plethora of QB talent do Oakland dip into the first round of the NFL draft? Up Next: Washington Redskins
28		1-11	-	Tampa played a great game of football, outgaining Carolina by 150+ total yards on offense. But with no consistent run game they were forced to put the ball in Josh Freeman’s hands in the redzone, the result: INT, INT, INT, INT, INT. Up Next: New York Jets
29		3-9	2	Kansas City were obliterated in this contest. They did nothing offensively and were horrific on D (see: 44 points conceded). Up Next: Buffalo Bills
30		2-10	-	With Stafford and Johnson healthy together for what seems like te first time in 11 weeks, the connection was fostered. Johnson caught bombs and finished with 123 yards. And so it begins… Up Next: @Baltimore Ravens
31		1-11	-	St. Louis didn’t deserve to win this game – or any games this season – but I’ll give them credit. Steven Jackson has had a brutish year and the Rams are feeding him, Jacksonville don’t feed their studs but sit 6 wins ahead. What do I know?! Up Next: @Tennessee Titans
32		1-11	-	Brady Quinn has stemmed his slow death as an NFL starter with a couple of seemingly positive performances in recent weeks, but don’t be fooled. He’s chucking garbage time short stuff and he needs to be ousted. Up Next: Pittsburgh Steelers

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 14.

Forget about Indianapolis they clinched this week, New Orleans will make it in with a win next week, whilst Minnesota will more than likely follow suit the week after that. I think it’s safe to say at this point that barring a meltdown San Diego should steamroll the AFC West with the Patriots matching their bullishness in the East, whilst there is absolutley no resistance to the Arizona Warnerdolls from the NFC West; deservedly or not, the Chargers, Pats and Cardinals will feature in the postseason. That in my mind, leaves 16 teams fighting for 6 spots.

Starting with the two most contestable divisions, the Cowboys are perennial choke artists but are afforded the luxury of a floundering Philadelphia team and a Giants organisaition in freefall in the NFC East. Whilst the AFC North is Cincinnati’s for the taking if they Pittsburgh continue to ride the injury wave that is crippling the heart of both their offense and defense.

Teams on the down are the Giants, Falcons and Texans who despite being postseason calibre just can’t seem to put it all together, have seen their season ruined by in opportune quarterback injuries and a horrible rub of the midseason schedule. I would add Denver to the sinking ship list, if they didn’t hide their inevitable choke artist-ry behind a surprising and – dare I say it – competant victory over the Giants on Thursday.

Teams with momentum as they surge for the playoffs are hard to com by, but the Packers and Titans would be your obvious candidates. Whilst the road is marred by tricky away ties in Chicago, Pittsburgh and Arizona for Green Bay, it’s nothing compared to the Titans’ schedule who will likely be required to beat either San Diego or Indianpolis if they want to see 9 wins and postseason paydirt.

Jacksonville continue to spin their wheels and will likely get caught napping if MJD isn’t getting the 20+ carries he deserves, whilst Miami, the Jets, Baltimore and San Francisco (the NFC is too strong for you 49ers fans, sorry!) offer little inspiration in frustrated filled seasons despite picking up wins on Sunday. Honestly, none of those 5 teams are playoff worthy, but with the AFC in dire straights one of them should sneak in alongside an underrated Pittsburgh side if – and I’m not saying it will – the wheels fall off the Titan bandwagon.

Player of the Week

Vince Young – Driving your team 99 yards (he had a previous long drive from inside his 5 eradicated by a weak Kenny Britt fumble, so it wasn’t a fluke) and converting 3 fourth downs for an expired time game winner is enough in my books for ‘TPS Player of the Week’. Nigh on 400 yards doesn’t hurt either.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Chad Clifton – It may have been against the Lions and Browns, but this Packer offensive line, especially Clifton, looks to have turned a corner in their torrid pass protection issues. Now they have a sterner test against Baltimore, but when you give Aaron Rodgers time you know he’s going to show the opposition why he’s deservedly regarded as a top 5 signal caller in the NFL.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

Right when you thoughtwe might be in for a renaissance, New York knock the stuffing out of themselves (yes, horrific Thanksgiving pun) and go right back to square one in a do or die encounter with Dallas next week.

With a lot of mediocrity in the NFL right now it’s tough to find any teams moving up; ranking places 9 through 16 have almost become interchangeable it’s got so bad.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 12:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		11-0	-	Indy found themselves 17 points down on an explosive Houston offense, but fortunately found themselves 20-7 down at the half against a fading Houston offense, and 4 consecutive touchdowns later, they were on the pleasant side of a 35-27 canter. Up Next: Tennessee Titans
2		11-0	-	I actually thought this might be the Saints’ undoing, but 5 TDs from Breesus Christ saw them home in impressive fashion. Up Next: @Washington Redskins
3		10-1	-	Early Pro Bowl voting figures feature Minnesota Vikings players leading the vote in 11 of the 19 catagories for the NFC. Considering Sidney Rice will likely make it as well, why don’t we just move the Pro Bowl to Minnesota, save on transport and forget about Kyoto. Up Next: @Arizona Cardinals
4		7-4	-	New England are cracking on defense, and were repeatedly gashed by Pierre Thomas in key situations. On the bright side, they’re in the AFC East so they won’t fear for their playoff spot too much. Up Next: @Miami Dolphins
5		8-3	-	A victory against Cleveland means pretty much nada, but considering Larry Johnson and Bernard Scott managed 180 yards between them, I’d hate to think what a returning Cedric Benson could total if he’d been playing. Up Next: Detroit Lions
6		6-5	-	I’ll apologise for being a tad harsh on Dennis Dixon last week, because he actually played a really good game. He just lacked the poise to convert in overtime and it slipped the Steelers to 2 games back. Big whoopsie Dennis. Up Next: Oakland Raiders
7		8-3	-	I’m still not convinced Dallas are a top 10 team, but with no franchise really interested in winning football games outside of the big three, they’ll have to do. Up Next: @New York Giants
8		8-3	-	Can we stop saying LT ran well? He got in twice from short yardage but also fumbled badly at the goaline. Hall of Fame? Undoubtedly. Productive number one? Not so much. Up Next: @Cleveland Browns
9		7-4	-	DeSean Jackson was withdrawn with a concussion ala Brian Westbrook, so now the Eagles will hope Jason Avant can step up in a season where they’ve seemingly been hit with injury everywhere. Up Next: @Atlanta Falcons
10		6-5	4	Joe Flacco was a statue in the pocket falling 5 times to the Steeler rush. I somehow think a healthy Ben Roethlisberger would have altered this outcome. Up Next: @Green Bay Packers
11		7-4	2	Is it too early to annoint this guy the #1 A-Rod in all of professional sport? Up Next: Baltimore Ravens
12		7-4	-	Until Kurt Warner returns this team will be in a holding pattern around slot 12. They have top 10 talent, but they just can’t show it with Leinart under center. Up Next: Minnesota Vikings
13		5-6	2	3 soul crushing defeats on the bounce see Houston slip but I still maintain that Houston are a quality organisation. Sadly, it looks less and less likely will get to see them after week 17. Up Next: @Jacksonville Jaguars
14		5-6	1	Chris Johnson wants 2000 yards and with matchups against St. Louis, Seattle and San Diego in the upcoming weeks I have to question whether 3000 is a more realistic target. Up Next: @Indianapolis Colts
15		7-4	1	Denver snapped the funk in impressive fashion, effectively cutting the strings of New York’s parachute with the cold hard ground just 1 week away for New York’s premier outfit. Up Next: Kansas City Chiefs
16		6-5	6	It’s all or nothing for the Giants next week. If they don’t stop the rot against Dallas, it will likely be game over for the postseason perennials. Up Next: Dallas Cowboys
17		5-6	-	Miami’s hopes were slim before they lost a winnable divisional battle. 9 wins may make it, but the apart from the Jags, the rest of Miami’s schedule features teams TPS ranks higher than the Tuna. Up Next: New England Patriots
18		5-6	2	Miami’s schedule may be too tough to handle, but when you look at 9 wins being a potential wildcard place, the Jets have an outside chance if the Colts and Bengals bench starters in weeks 16 and 17. Longshot to say the least Up Next: @Buffalo Bills
19		6-5	1	Right around the time David Garrard fumbled for the second time in the redzone and failed to convert on any of his four trips there, I bet Jack Del Rio was wishing he had some sort of beast running back that he could feed the ball to 25+ times and be taken seriously as a head coach, franchise and playoff contender. Oh wait… Up Next: Houston Texans
20		6-5	1	Matt Ryan’s turf toe will keep him out for a minimum of a week, but between you and me, Chris Redman looked marginally more productive and a heck of a lot less turnover prone. Up Next: Philadelphia Eagles
21		5-6	-	San Fran are playoff contenders virtue of a schedule featuring Seattle, St. Louis and Detroit. If they tack on a win against Arizona then they may even take the division. Having said that, I would be ashamed to call myself NFC West champions. Up Next: @Seattle Seahawks
22		3-8	-	Allowing just 1 sack and more time for Jason Campbell gave Washington a shot against Philadelphia – especially when they have the number 1 pass defense to keep trouble at bay – but like has happened more often than not in 2009, they just never really wanted to win. Up Next: Detroit Lions
23		4-7	-	Next week the Rams should allow Chicago to cleanse their pallet of what continues to be a horrific 2009 campaign. Up Next: St. Louis Rams
24		4-7	-	Darrelle Revis is a man. The guy held a hot Steve Smith to just 5 yards receiving and when you ask Jake Delhomme to throw anywhere else but Smitty, the result is ugly. Like interceptersaurus ugly. Up Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
25		4-7	-	There’s a lot of Justin Forsett love being bandied about but was I the only one to notice the opposition? Up Next: San Francisco 49ers
26		4-7	2	Ok that was impressive. Now if Buffalo can do the same against New York next week we might just forget how totally horrendous Buffalo have been all year… NO MAINSTREAM MEDIA, WE WON’T. You don’t wave a wand and make 10 bad weeks dissapear. Up Next: New York Jets
27		3-8	-	Kansas City are getting brutalised and need left tackle help badly. Brandon Albert had a nice rookie season at blindside, but he just doesn’t have the foot speed to avoid a shift to guard. Or to put it another way, he just doesn’t have the foot speed to NOT-avoid something, like an NFL defensive end one in a while. Up Next: Denver Broncos
28		1-10	2	I think Tampa are a better team than results would indicate during the Josh Freeman era, and I would actually fancy them as underdogs at Carolina if it wasn’t for the little fact that THEIR FRONT 7 COULDN’T EVEN STOP ME! Up Next: @Carolina Panthers
29		3-8	-	There is just nothing going on in this franchise, and despite grabbing his first touchdown, their last three consecutive top 10 picks have amounted to absolutley 0 on field talent. Up Next: @Pittsburgh Steelers
30		2-9	-	Matt Stafford couldn’t play, Daunte Culpepper didn’t want to play, Calvin Johnson is fit enough to stand on the field and take shots, but not fit enough to catch more than 2 balls. Why are Detroit ranked 30th again? Because they enjoy risking the health of franchise cornerstones in the name of futile attempts at victory. Up Next: @Cinncinati Bengals
31		1-10	-	Steven Jackson is like the kid at school whose overprotective and embarassing mom insists on chaperoning him to all the cool parties. I quite literally think SJax will cringe when he sees his Pro Bowl helmet with that goofy sheep on it. Up Next: @Chicago Bears
32		1-10	-	Cleveland just lost their best player to IR, and I hope that Cleveland fans aren’t deluding themselves into thinking Shaun Rogers is actually going to stick around next year. Hell. No. Up Next: San Diego Chargers

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 13.

On paper, with just a single game separating the duelling parties we should be excited about Denver and San Diego’s surge for the AFC West, but as Sunday showed there is light years between the two and whilst the Broncos slip back, San Diego’s 4th consecutive AFC West title looks more and more inevitable.

In another case of ‘do you remember when we sucked and you were good, and then we totally turned the tables and now we’re ready to mop the floor with the division because you really aren’t as good as you made out at the beginning of the year’, New England pushed 2 games ahead of the AFC East after a win in New York and look set to coast to their annual playoff appearance after abject pressure from teams Shanne Fitzchadchez.

Close on paper AND close in reality is the AFC North where an 0-4 weekend leaves the door open for the Bengals to undo all their good work, the Polamalus to resurge (for the second time this year) and even the marginally crappy Ravens to make a shot at the postseason; being just 2 games off the top spot.

The AFC North may be close, but thanks to perfection, incompetence and a contagious case of Matt Ryanitis (basically where you just hurl turnovers every game) for all those involved, the NFC North and both AFC and NFC Souths look to be heading in only one direction. Well actually three; Minnesota, Indianapolis and New Orleans.

Meanwhile the Cardinals look clinical exterminating nobodies, and the NFC East plays a game of ‘who wants it least’, which would have insanely left the Redskins just 2 games back had Shaun Suisham not hung his team out to dry on Sunday.

In other news, welcome to the milestone club Steven Jackson and Curtis Lofton who reached 1000 yards and 100 tackles in their respective disciplines, and welcome to the IR list Ronnie Brown; done for the season, but if Thursday is anything to go by maybe taming the wildcat won’t be such a bad thing for Miami.

Player of the Week

Wes Welker – Possession guys caught my eye this week, so the TPS Player and Under the Radar Player of the week awards go to Wes Welker and Wes Welker lite. First in my sights is the original Welker who converted 17 Tom Brady targets into 15 catches for 196 yards, as well as forging for a first down on an 11 yard scamper off an end around. The phrase MVP has devolved into a ‘best player’ type year end award, but when you look at the phrase Most Valuable Player in its true form you talking about the player who adds the greatest value to his franchise. It’s no coincidence that New England’s offense looked totally out of sync with an injured Welker sidelined or hampered weeks 2 through 5 (a stretch New England posted a record of 2-2), and they’ve now clicked to put a near perfect 5-1 run together. This guy truly is the Most Valuable Player and if he continues at this steam he’s on track for 160 receptions.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Davone Bess – A possession receiver with quick feet, clean routes and a sure set of hands, playing for the Dolphins and keeping their limited offense ticking over. Where have I seen that before? Where Welker left off, Davone Bess has picked up; Thursday night against Carolina, Bess made several astute and athletic catches, averaging a first down every catch and finishing with figures of 6 for 63. Bess kept the offense potent for Miami, and the game just out of Carolina’s clutches; integral.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

Baltimore might have run the undefeated champs close, but it wasn’t Baltimore doing the legwork; it was kicker Billy Cundiff. Baltimore’s offense is really abject right now and fall 6.

Miami climb 4 after a composed performance against a hobbled Carolina on Thursday, as the now Brown-less Dolphins look to be rallying around their impressive young signal caller Chad Henne.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 11:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		10-0	-	Despite Baltimore’s best efforts to field goal the Colts to death (they hit 5 on Sunday, AKA all of their points), Indianapolis looked sharp if a little perturbed that they stalled on a game sealing touchdown, settling instead for a game sealing field goal keeping perfection intact. Up Next: @Houston Texans
2		10-0	-	The Saints didn’t have too much against Tampa but they’ll still be counting off the days until run stop ace Sedrick Ellis returns, because until then they know their underbelly is looking particularly soft and vulnerable. Up Next: NewEngland Patriots
3		8-1	-	Here is what Minnesota didn’t have last year; when AP doesn’t AP-anize the opposition (24 for 82) – though Chester Taylor did slice them for a further 73 – Tavaris Jackson was never going to put on a peerless 22/25 for 213 and 4TDs. This year they have said weapon, and this year they’re going to be second seeds in the NFC. Up Next: Chicago Bears
4		7-3	-	New England are erm… New England. Any doubts you had about this offense should be eradicated by now, and this defense has just about tilted opposing scores back to the manageable end of the spectrum. Pats and Colts dominating the AFC; what’s all this talk about parity? Up Next: @New Orleans Saints
5		7-3	-	Don’t worry Cincinnati, I would have thought 19 points, 100 yards rushing and two walk in touchdowns would of been enough to beat the crappy Raiders as well. Just a silly mental lapse, on a day the whole AFC North lost and they could have capitalised. Up Next: Cleveland Browns
6		6-4	-	What’s worse than a Ben Roethlisberger concussion keeping him away from the helm of a Polamalu-less Steelers? Charlie Batch busting his wrist, and what’s worse than that? Dennis ‘can’t throw so won’t throw’ Dixon. Up Next: @Baltimore Ravens
7		7-3	-	Dallas were as hot as they come 3 weeks ago, but they’ve cooled considerably and were a Shaun Suisham boot away from being gazpachod on Sunday. As in hot to cold… the soup. It makes sense; trust me. Up Next: Oakland Raiders
8		7-3	1	San Diego encountered little resistance Sunday from what technically amounts to their closest rivals in the division, which really doesn’t bode well for the chances of said division shedding its label of the AFC Worst. San Diego’s front 7 has really upped its game, and their offensive line play is starting to settle down as well. Up Next: Kansas City Chiefs
9		6-4	3	Philadelphia looked sharp for about a quarter and a half before slowing to an unceremonious grinding halt. With the offense stalled, they unbelievably left Chicago with an opening that fortunately, Jay Cutler couldn’t convert. Up Next: Washington Redskins
10		6-4	-	Two of 2008’s standout stopping units got made to look like fools on Sunday, by – sadly – two really lame offenses to be honest. Luckily for New York, Eli was perhaps the only gleaming gem in a depressing yet entertaining matchup. Up Next: @Denver Broncos
11		5-5	-	Houston have been in the wrong place at the wrong time two weeks in a row now and it’s killing their momentum. Up Next: Indianapolis Colts
12		7-3	2	Matt Leinart looked good in the preseason, but every time he’s made an appearance this year post-Warner blow up he’s been woeful at best. Greatest preseason-yet-regular-season-choke-artist ever? I think we might just have a winner. Up Next: @Tennessee Titans
13		6-4	-	The Packers eased up on defense and left themselves sweating unnecessarily, but they looked pretty tight – yet again – against a weaker opponent with a miserable pass rush. Shocker. Up Next: @Detroit Lions
14		5-5	6	Having already ‘retired’ and with his contract up at the end of the year I doubt Derrick Mason re-signs, and when you factor in the high likelihood of the mercurial Mark Clayton and anonymous Demetrius Williams also walking at the end of the season, you have to be concerned that yet again the 35 year old Mason was the only serviceable receiver in Baltimore (9 for 142) and that there seems to be no developing weapon for Joe Flacco, who will only have to play more and more catch-up football as this defense continues to fray. Up Next: Pittsburgh Steelers
15		4-6	2	Tennessee are hot right now and there is talk of the playoffs but if they want to get anywhere near the postseason they’ll have to win out, and with San Diego, Indianapolis and Arizona on the schedule that looks like a tough proposition. Up Next: Arizona Cardinals
16		6-4	1	Broncos blowing their easy chance at the playoffs… who’d have thunk it?! Wasn’t this the exact reason Mike Shanahan got fired? And can we write on Chris Simms’ gravestone “here lies Chris Simms: marginally worse than an ill prepared Kyle Orton with a broken ankle”? Up Next: New York Giants
17		5-5	4	Wow… a ‘might not make play on Thursday night’ escalated into a ‘done for the year’ for Ronnie Brown, but it’s weird to consider that this team started without a receiving corps, lost its franchise quarterback and then also saw its feature back/pivot around which this whole offense operates go the way of IR and yet still came up trumps against Carolina. You know who sucks… Up Next: @Buffalo Bills
18		6-4	-	Why do I write the same thing every time Jacksonville lose/nearly get embarrassed Jack Del Rio? Why? How about one more time: Buffalo suck against the run. Buffalo lack stud defensive tackle Marcus Stroud. You have possible MVP at running back. So why Mr. Del Rio do you wait until you’re sweating late to unleash pocket Herc? Up Next: @San Francisco 49ers
19		5-5	3	If Matt Ryan could of spring boarded his outstanding 08 rookie campaign into the most impressive fledgling quarterback career since Ben Roethlisberger way back in 2004, instead he’s become an inconsistent mess with a myriad of turnover problems. Get your head screwed on Matt! Up Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20		4-6	1	New York are just insane with their play calling. Their studly front 7 and all pro secondary can’t be blamed if Rex Ryan decides putting the ball in the hands of Mr. INT to the San-Man-Zee is a smarter move than running 30+ times with their workhorse back. Up Next: Carolina Panthers
21		4-6	1	The 49ers barely flustered Aaron Rodgers which is going approaching the fat chick at the end of the night because you used to be hot before you mutilated yourself be crashing your bike 4 weeks ago, and then still getting rejected. Look deep and you’ll find insightful commentary on offensive vs. defensive line pressure somewhere in that metaphor. Real deep. Up Next: Jacksonville Jaguars
22		3-7	2	We know Jason Campbell isn’t much interested in playing football, neither has Washington’s offensive line, running backs or receivers, but now their kicker has given up?! A heroic defensive effort was put on the skids as Shaun Suisham missed two very makeable efforts. Up Next: @Philadelphia Eagles
23		4-6	-	I can’t believe that Chicago were actually in the possession to win this game, because they really didn’t deserve to. Matt Forte’s legs go dead on contact and he has none of his 08 swagger, whilst Jay Cutler had some criminal overthrows. Up Next: @Minnesota Vikings
24		4-6	2	…Carolina suck! I mulled over the idea preseason that the loss of Maake Kemoeatu would make this team susceptible to the run, but 119 yards to a clapped out Ricky Williams?! Ouch. Up Next: @New York Jets
25		3-7	-	When the opposition can bench their quarterback at the start of the fourth, you know you’ve had a bad day. This score could have literally been anything. Up Next: @St. Louis Rams
26		1-9	-	Josh Freeball turned up again throwing 3 INTs and fumbling which haunted another otherwise impressive outing from the 3 game veteran. Up Next: @Atlanta Falcons
27		3-7	2	Kansas City might not be able to beat the Raiders, but they sure can put a licking on the Steelers. I don’t get it either, but somewhere in between Ben Roethlisberger getting hurt and Troy Polamalu sitting on the sidelines Matt Cassel put together a decent drive – his first of the season, so congratulations Matt! Up Next: @San Diego Chargers
28		3-7	1	I really hope this game plan of ‘get TO the ball no matter what’ is an anomaly, because in all reality TO will be gone next year and what do Buffalo have left on offense? No quarterback, no offensive line, a flaky run game and Lee ‘all or (more often than not) nothing’ Evans. Up Next: Miami Dolphins
29		3-7	2	Let me tell you the scaaaaary tale of Emily Rose Gradkowski. There once was a serviceable backup who had limited playing time in Tampa before getting the nod over an overpaid, overweight, first overall bust, who played a mediocre game of football until the ghost of Peyton Mannings past, present and future possessed his body and he led one of the worst football teams to lace their cleats to a chilling 79 yard game winning drive featuring an impressive 4th and 10 conversion against the toughest team in football. Spooky, yet bizarrely reality. Up Next: @Dallas Cowboys
30		2-8	-	Turns out two negatives make a positive. What the hell happened?! Did the NFL pull both franchises together and say “sorry guys. We have some Arena teams that would like a crack at the NFL, so can you guys not play defense and pad out your season stats to realistic levels?”.It was like Manning and Brady slugging it out last week, but in slow motion… and way way worse. Up Next: Green Bay Packers
31		1-9	3	Matt Leinart obviously needed the Rams to cover the spread, but other than Steven Jackson and Oshi Atogwe there is little light in the dark Rams tunnel.Up Next: Seattle Seahawks
32		1-9	-	I talked about this game being reminiscent of Brady and Manning slugging it out last week, so follow my logic on this: Manning has Reggie Wayne and a perfect record, Tom Brady has Randy Moss and three Super Bowls, Matthew Stafford has Megatron and a win on Sunday, and Brady Quinn has Mo Massaquoi, 9 losses and a girly arm. Oh and how stupid was Eric Mangini to call a timeout and allow a red hot Stafford to return to the game from injury just in time to hurl the over-clocked winning touchdown. Mike Holmgren? Yes please. Up Next: @Cincinnati Bengals

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 12.

If Michael Turner punches holes in defenses then Ronnie Brown carves them, but unfortunately the Dolphin is hardly the specimen of health right now either. The versatile gimmick wand managed just a quarter more than Turner, before departing in the third with a right ankle injury that required crutches and an x-ray. With a short week to prepare before a Thursday night clash with Carolina, it looks unlikely that Brown will take any part in what would have been a very favourable matchup for his beleaguered fantasy owners.

If Turner and Brown are underachieving as runners in 09(Turner’s YPG average is down 16 yards on last year to just 90 per game, whilst Brown erratically swings between 100+ yards one Sunday, and 27 yard dribbles the next) then it’s time to talk about a running back who is overachieving; Cedric Benson now appears banged up with a reoccurring hip strain that Bengals fans pray won’t put an end to the spellbinding performances their talismanic MVP contender has posted throughout 09. Cincinnati seem hopeful Benson will return to them by the middle of the week, but muscular strains tend to linger and can seriously impair the impact of a feature back like Benson; ask Detroit’s Kevin Smith, specifically ask his busted shoulder.

Brian Westbrook’s injury was a little more serious as he was withdrawn by Andy Reid Sunday after his second concussion on the year. After being knocked senseless against Washington 3 weeks ago I doubt BW could write his own name Sunday morning, so a second brutal concussion in as many games for him may well bring an abrupt end to a stuttering year. Does LeBrian McWestbrook 2.0 step up for Philadelphia, or does a free agent Larry Johnson provide a more enticing option as Andy Reid attempts to steady the flagging ship of Philadelphia’s season… oh wait. Looks like the Bengals just caught Big Andy knapping on that deal.

The list goes on, varying from the talented (Carolina’s standout left tackle Jordan Gross saw his season likely end with a broken ankle) to the less so (Julius Jones’ hospitalization for a broken rib and blood filled lung may sound brutal, but when was the last time Julius Jones brutalized an opposition defense?), culminating in a weekend of football that is sure to keep physios nationwide well stocked with well paying ball playing talent.

Player of the Week

Charles Woodson – In a game that featured just 3 points before the fourth quarter it’s no surprise the standout player starred on defense. Charles Woodson eliminated a 40 yard play by Roy Williams with a timely strip in the first, and later shutdown two key fourth quarter Cowboy drives by forcing a second fumble on Tony Romo off a well designed corner blitz and a game tilting diving interception to seal the deal for the PackNation. Oh and I forgot to mention that Woodson primarily lined up opposite Miles Austin and held the new kid on the block to just 4 catches for 20 yards, his lowest total since his breakout week 5 performance.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Brian Orakpo – Transitioning to the NFL is tough, playing defensive end and making that transition even more so. So how impressed are you by Brian Orakpo right now? The guy didn’t play a snap in college without his hand in the dirt, so to come to the NFL and make the transition from end to strongside linebacker as seamless as he has is a thing of beauty. Orakpo is part of a tough stopping unit and now has 7 sacks on the year, including 1.5 against Denver whilst playing a pivotal role in securing a Washington win – something that is few and far between. To give his 7 sacks some context; the total number of sacks in the 3 year careers of 4 of the 5 defensive ends taken in the first round of the 2007 draft (Jarvis Moss, Anthony Spencer, Jamaal Anderson and Adam Carriker) is 10, combined. In half a season Orakpo has 7 more sacks than Vernon Gholston – a player billed to fill a similar role in New York – has period, and 5 more than Chris Long. Orakpo is writing the textbook on transitioning to the NFL for players in the front seven.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

After hitting horrible runs of form the Eagles, Giants and Ravens all slip out of the top 10, meanwhile Kansas City fall 3 because… well because they’re abysmal.

Quarterback changes reap dividends in Tennessee and Tampa as both franchises rise 3 and 4 spots respectively. The Patriots jugganaurt also begins to pick up steam, climbing 4 before a tough game with #2 ranked Indianapolis.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 10:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		9-0	1	Patriots’ fans can point to a horrible – I mean atrocious – pass interference call on Darius Butler that allowed Joseph Addai to walk into the end zone one play later, but the Colts’ are looking unstoppable right now and they don’t play a team of substance until…erm… the post-season. The whiff of perfection is in the air. Up Next: @Baltiomore Ravens
2		9-0	1	The Saints lose their #1 slot atop of the TPS Power Rankings because teams are starting to expose their Achilles heel (their soft run stop unit) and specifically the Sedrick Ellis sized void in the middle of their d-line. They’re still head and shoulders above the rest of the NFL… just not the Colts anymore. Up Next: @Tampa Bay Buccaneers
3		8-1	2	I’m not one to turn down a chance to ‘Me! Me! Me!” a little, but Sidney Rice – a player I seemed totally alone on when mentioning preseason breakout candidates – is secretly the hottest receiver in the NFL right now. Rice managed 201 yards on 7 catches, which – to give it some context – is about as much as Antonio Bryant has on the year. Up Next: Seattle Seahawks
4		6-3	-	This was an instant classic that devolved into an all out slugfest as two of the best quarterbacks attempted to out heave each other, but unfortunately an amazing game has been boiled down to one play, specifically Bill Belichick’s choice to choose a play, a failed fourth down conversion that set up a short field for the best clutch quarterback in the league. Ouch. Up Next: New York Jets
5		7-2	1	Oakland, Cleveland, Detroit and Kansas City look like 4 easy wins for the Bengals who would be left sitting at 11 wins and more than likely AFC North division champions. I still have an inkling of scepticism that Marvin Lewis won’t make a hash of this and actually manage to guide a deserved Cincinnati into the post-season. Up Next: @Oakland Raiders
6		6-3	3	My prophet-esque prediction of a Steelers revival wasn’t plucked from thin air. I had an inkling it would conveniently coincide with the return of Troy Polamalu, so now he has re-aggravated the knee that cost him 4 games at the start of this year I feel obliged to re-evaluate an organisation that has grown dependent on it Hence… I see doom in the fortunes of the Steelers. Up Next: @Kansas City Chiefs
7		6-3	-	This was a real step back for the Cowboys who on paper had all the weapons to put the Packers on the rack, aka any sort of pass rush and deep threat receivers, so Wade Phillips will be seething with rage on a night Philly slipped up and the Giants were sleeping. Up Next: Washington Redskins
8		5-4	1	Baltimore suck. Yeah they won, but this shouldn’t have even been a contest considering the plethora of talent the Ravens possess at running back and the non-existence of talent… well…. anywhere really on the Browns’ side of the ball. Up Next: Indianapolis Colts
9		6-3	4	I’m not quite buying this LT of old talk. LaDainian showed some shuffle on Sunday against the 2nd ranked run defense in the league, but he spelled his brilliance with stiff hipped negative gains and an uncharacteristic uncomfortableness when receiving in the flats. Conservatism people. Up Next: @Denver Broncos
10		5-4	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: Atlanta Falcons
11		5-4	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: Tennessee Titans
12		5-4	4	When is enough, enough? When does Andy Reid see his team falter at the goal line for the bazillionth time in the last 3 seasons and say “hey. Diminutive receivers, concussed veterans and sub-190lb scat-backs won’t get me in the end zone. Why don’t I line up in the I-formation?” Or alternatively IR Westbrook and sign Larry J; either will do but the former would be far more entertaining. Up Next: @Chicago Bears
13		5-4	1	For what was meant to be a fiery contest between the sack happy ‘Boys and the gun slinging Packers, 3 points was a pretty measly total for three quarters of football. Fortunately the Packers tacked 14 more on whilst Dallas could only manage 7, leaving the final score (funnily enough) 17-7 to the cheese heads. Up Next: San Francisco 49ers
14		6-3	3	We talk about Arizona being a schizophrenic team struggling to find consistency from game to game, but this matchup was ridiculous. First half we saw the bad; an exposed secondary put under pressure by an unbalanced offense lacking a run game. Only for a franchise resurgence in the second, that saw Kurt Warner spray the ball around to everyone (including a finally healthy Anquan Boldin), supported by a Beanie Wells chain-moving run game and a defense that swarmed like a wildfire. Headache inducingly erratic right now. Up Next: @St. Louis Rams
15		6-3	3	As tempting as it is to just link to the numerous articles that heralded Denver Super Bowl contenders just 3 short weeks ago, I will give them an out by saying that in lieu of an injured Kyle Orton (an injured Kyle Orton is marginally more useless than a healthy Kyle Orton, who in turn is marginally more useless than a breeze block at quarterback), Chris Simms played a catastrophic half of football. Can we all agree that Chris Simms is paradigm shifting-ly bad at football. Up Next: San Diego Chargers
16		5-4	-	Sophomore slump much? Matt Ryan was all over the place on Sunday; erratic on the easy throws, off target in the clutch, and he continued to be a turnover machine, throwing a pair of ugly picks. Up Next: @New York Giants
17		3-6	3	41 is an ballooned total that was inflated by a pair of desperation pick-sixes Tennessee scored on towards the backend of the tilt, but it’s another one in the win column for a team rallying behind a running back who projects over the year to finish a hair’s width under 2000 yards. Chris Johnson is insane. Up Next: @Houston Texans
18		5-4	5	You know that feeling you get when you realise something you already knew, and yet it makes you feel weak at the knees because you have no idea how said situation came about? If not just read the following sentence: the Jaguars are 5-4. Whoa… Up Next: Buffalo Bills
19		4-5	4	Mark Sanchez is a rookie quarterback who looks to have the skills to carve himself a decent career in the NFL, but he’s doing it all backwards right now tossing picks when the Jets need him to game manage and yet showing composure in the clutch. Despite a pair of impressive late game drives, Sanchez couldn’t save the Jets from snatching defeat from the jaws of victory for the umpteenth week running. Up Next: @New England Patriots
20		4-5	1	Love to bring you some insightful comment about what went down in the season’s Thursday night premiere, but I was watching paint dry instead. Wow was this game bad. Up Next: @Green Bay Packers
21		4-5	2	Miami are relying heavily on their gimmick offense to put points on the board, something which may well have cost them dear now they’re Ronnie Brownless for Thursday night against the Panthers if it wasn’t for the fact that orthodox offenses do a pretty good job of tearing Carolina apart anyway. In fact any offense can destroy Carolina… except Atlanta. Up Next: @Carolina Panthers
22		4-5	-	Carolina couldn’t stop the run before injury ended linebacker Thomas Davis’ season last week, and Sunday showed they’re now even worse after Michael Turner scythed them for 111 yards on just 9 carries before Justin Snelling totalled a brisk 61 yard in replacement. I mean come on; Snelling is like 90% the same word as Snail, how can you be so weak up front Carolina?! Up Next: Miami Dolphins
23		4-5	5	Jay Cutler threw 5 picks but I only fault him for 2 (a Devin Hester slip, a Devin Hester run-into-the-referee, and a last second close-your-eyes-and-pray were at fault for the other 3), but unfortunately my opinion doesn’t win football games; turnovers lose them. Up Next: Philadelphia Eagles
24		3-6	2	When you watch games on Sunday you look for trends within the game and trends throughout the season, and just think about the cause and effect of the trends you see. So follow my logic on this one: the Redskins couldn’t block me for the first 10 weeks of the season, they lose starting left tackle Chris Samuels, suddenly they hold the league’s hottest sack artist Elvis Dumervil to just a single and Jason Campbell only goes down 3 times en route to a comfortable victory. What?! Does. Not. Compute. Up Next: @Dallas Cowboys
25		3-6	1	A pair of red zone interceptions cost Seattle vital points, but their problems are much more deep rooted, stemming mostly from an offensive line that can’t block or push and a secondary that would struggle to cover Stevie from Malcolm in the Middle. Up Next: @Minnesota Vikings
26		1-8	1	Tampa Bay couldn’t keep their hands on the football and hence the game, as the ball slipped away from Josh Freeman on four occasions and Maurice Stovall on another leaving Raheem Morris reeling as a second win beckoned. Up Next: New Orleans Saints
27		3-6	2	The critique of Trent Edwards has always been that he’s a conservative player with a limited ceiling of around 220 tidy yards and a touchdown or two (read: he was never going to win you a football game). Right now, in his form and behind that line, he’d give his tiny right arm for a clean 220. Up Next: @Jacksonville Jaguars
28		1-8	1	In a true testament to the Rams’ woefulness, they held the prolific Drew Brees to under 250 yards, excluding a single Reggie Bush 55 yard slice allowed no New Orleans’ back over 40 yards and battered the Saints’ soft run defense to the tune of Steven Jackson’s 176 all purpose yards, and yet… they still lost. Up Next: Arizona Cardinals
29		2-7	1	Whoa! A running back! A what?! A running back! In Kansas, Toto?! Yeah! A real life running back! Thank you Wizard!!! Up Next: Pittsburgh Steelers
30		1-8	1	Matt Stafford still seems limited on his extensions thanks to his ailing knee, whilst Megatron looks a week or two away from returning to the physical beast we know and love, but Detroit showed some fight, and I’m suddenly coming round to the idea that they may actually win another game this year. Believe me; my mind is as blown as yours right now. Up Next: Cleveland Browns
31		2-7	3	I considered Michael ‘the AFC’s best kept secret’ Bush’s 110 yard effort for the TPS Under the Radar Performance of the Week, but then I realised it was against the Chiefs, and that despite Oakland being involved in a matchup where the opposition starts with ‘Ch’ and ends in ‘eefs’ the Raiders still lost. How…? Just how… Up Next: @Minnesota Vikings
32		1-8	-	Cleveland showed some spirit on defense but their offense doesn’t even exist. Jamaal Lewis on 10 carries outgained Josh Cribbs’ gimmicky 6 carries by just 2 yards, oh and then Cribbs got injured, so now there is zilch run game in Cleveland. Maybe they can pass? To who? Mike Furrey? And with who? Brady ‘40%-completion-on-a-good-day’ Quinn? Up Next: @Detroit Lions

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 11.

Player of the Week

Josh Freeman – His decision making is still pretty raw, he took a lot of snaps out of the shotgun formation to conceal the cracks in his footwork and he coughed up a pick to the aggressive Nick Collins, but wow. Was that a hot performance or what? Bringing his team back from an 11 point deficit, converting a 4th and 4 to win the game, making 2 point conversions, showing physical strength in the pocket combined with mobility on the run, locking his eyes downfield and putting zip on the ball in tough conditions when required to; Tampa Bay have a gem they need to polish.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Cedric Benson – Cedric Benson seems a mainstay in any and all Performance of the Week monikers this season, and for good reason; because outside of Minnesotan tailbacks whose names start with an A and end in Drian Peterson, Cedric Benson has to be considered the standout running back of the 09 season. So how can a guy getting so much adulation be considered ‘Under the Radar’? He wasn’t spectacular on Sunday, and Carson Palmer and a stout defensive unit would probably claim greater stake in Cinncinnati’s 10 point humbling of the Ravens, but hidden in the midst of all that was Cedric Benson becoming only the second rusher in history to top 100 yards on the Baltimore Ravens; Jerome Bettis is the co-feature in this revered class of two. Hats off Mr Benson 2.0.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

After hitting horrible runs of form the Eagles, Giants and Ravens all slip out of the top 10, meanwhile Kansas City fall 3 because… well because they’re abysmal.

Quarterback changes reap dividends in Tennessee and Tampa as both franchises rise 3 and 4 spots respectively. The Patriots jugganaurt also begins to pick up steam, climbing 4 before a tough game with #2 ranked Indianapolis.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 9:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		8-0	-	Heroic comebacks are what Drew Brees does these days. I guess he got bored of tossing multi-TD games and decided to ply his talents at a different discipline, but bottom line is that as long as this offense keeps firing they’ll be insulated from any negative repercussions their soft run defense may cause them. Up Next: @St. Louis Rams
2		8-0	-	They may have survived a tough test by the skin of their teeth, but the Colts’ remain unbeaten thanks (of course) to Manning, Clark, Wayne et al, but also thanks to a rare bristling performance from the second best runner in Indy, Joseph Addai. With Don Brown in the medical room, Addai scythed his way to 63 yards on 14 attempts, adding a necessary dimension to the NFL’s 29th ranked run offense. Up Next: New England Patriots
3		6-2	–	Let’s forget the opening of their season ever existed. Right now the Steelers have found the perfect fusion between the Polamalu lead fortress defense that won them the Super Bowl last year, and the hard running, high flying offense they’ve developed in 2009. Danger Will Robinson! Danger! Up Next: Cincinnati Bengals
4		6-2	4	Later in these rankings I’ll go on to praise Vontae Davis for his spectacular takeaway – and I mean takeaway, Tom Brady didn’t give him an inch – but make no bones about it, Randy Moss straight up dummied Miami’s rookie corner tandem. When he wasn’t making one handed grabs he was stiff arming them on 71 yard breakaways. The guy is a monster. Up Next: @Indianapolis Colts
5		7-1	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: Detroit Lions
6		6-2	3	Cincinnati are a workmanlike unit with the potential to score big points quickly. Leon Hall is playing out of his skin right now and whether they need it or not, it looks the AFC North will be represented via wildcard in the 09 postseason. Up Next: @Pittsburgh Steelers
7		6-2	6	Dallas are perhaps the hottest team in football right now. As the Giants and Eagles stumble, Wade Phillips has the perfect chance to build up a buffer before the inevitable post-Christmas nosedive. Up Next: @Green Bay Packers
8		5-3	4	I love DeSean Jackson as an on-field threat, but in 2009 he’s devolved into little more than a big play stunt artist; he averages 20 yards a catch, leads the league in 40+ yarders and has just 26 receptions on the year (2 more than Mushin Mohammed), making him an unreliable target and a far stretch from the safe hands Donovan McNabb needs right now. Up Next: @San Diego Chargers
9		4-4	3	Baltimore were offensively horrible in this game. Whenever they were asked to make a play they fell short – converting just 1 of their 10 3rd downs – failing to get anything going via ground or air; Flacco was a limited 195 yards with 2 picks, whilst the electric Ray Rice was insulated to just 48 rushing yards. Up Next: @Cleveland Browns
10		5-4	3	New York are systematically imploding; their choi de suicide of week 9 was the penalty. New York surrendered over 100 yards in penalties including a Chris Snee holding call that erased any hopes of a game sealing touchdown late in the fourth. Up Next: BYE
11		5-4	1	Houston lost for the eighth time on the bounce in Indianapolis, sliding back to 5-4, but credit where it’s due, they were a 42 yard field goal away from victory and would have probably held on were it not for some costly errors including a Ryan Moats’ fumble at the 1. Houston running back making critical fumbles, hmm…. where have I seen that before? Oh yeah, the sidelines. Up Next: BYE
12		6-2	1	Cut to those of you who said Denver are a top 10 team who can hang with the best. Guess what; the best just came to town and they’re 2 losses better off for it. Up Next: @Washington Redskins
13		5-3	2	Vincent Jackson is straight up dummying opposition defenses right now; 2 touchdowns with a likely third requiring defensive interference to prevent and multiple big time grabs. Phillip Rivers wasn’t too shoddy either; his final 80 yard, 1 minute drive was the stuff of champions. Up Next: Philadelphia Eagles
14		4-4	4	Here’s a joke: what happens when you put one of the best quarterbacks in the league behind a line that has given up almost as many sacks in half a season as they did all last year? 4 and 4. The punch line in this whole situation? Green Bay. Up Next: Dallas Cowboys
15		4-4	1	BYE WEEK Up Next: Jacksonville Jaguars
16		5-3	-	Michael Turner thumped home his 10th touchdown of the year – allaying fantasy fears that Tony Gonzalez would eat up his touchdowns – but the rest of this offense is incredibly lacklustre right now. Up Next: @Carolina Panthers
17		5-3	1	Arizona are playing great ball on D, and we all know they can explode on offense. They’re going to make the playoffs thanks to their horrible division, but what team shows up in the post-season will be a total mystery. How’d that work out last year? Hmm…Up Next: Seattle Seahawks
18		4-4	1	Chicago have no consistency right now, which should have boded well against an even more inconsistent Arizona team. Unfortunately, the Cards were hot and the Bears were not; 41 points worth of not. Up Next: @San Francisco 49ers
19		3-5	-	What is with rookie corners making crazy interceptions out of nowhere on the two best quarterbacks in the league? Last week it was Brent Grimes’ turn to snaffle Drew Brees, this week Vontae Davis makes a huge play, quite literally on Randy Moss; going up high and showing the focus needed to cancel out a nailed on touchdown. Up Next: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
20		2-6	3	Economical in victory is Vince Young’s M.O, but he made some plays – he was a little lucky Justin Gage decided to make the catch of his career after VY threw to a crowded center field – and added a dimension with the run-pass option he gifts Jeff Fisher. Up Next: Buffalo Bills
21		3-5	1	San Francisco have faded badly after a bright start, but right now there are just too many ‘developing’ pieces; Michael Crabtree isn’t quite getting the separation his elite level route running deserves, whilst Alex Smith had growing pains in his lengthy quest to vindicate his #1 price tag. Up Next: Chicago Bears
22		3-5	-	Jake Delhomme now has back to back games without an interception – he did turnover the ball on a fumble so don’t celebrate too hard – and the Panthers are improving. With a stacked quarterback class emerging from college this year in anticipation to a rookie capped 2011 season, I wouldn’t be surprised if Delhomme has a capable understudy breathing down his neck come training camp next year. Up Next: Atlanta Falcons
23		4-4	1	I’m worried that it took playing a bad Kansas City team and a skittish Matt Cassel for Jacksonville to improve their season sack total by 60% (5 became 8 against Kansas’ diminutive line), but Jacksonville are just about holding onto the coat tails of NFL mediocrity boasting a .500 record at the season mid-point, so good for them… I guess. Up Next: @New York Jets
24		3-5	3	Seattle opened this game with a pick and a lost fumble on their first two offensive snaps and got stuffed on 4th and short down the ensuing drive, so quickly found themselves chasing a 17 point Detroit lead. Fortunately the Lions had little interest in winning this game so Orlindo Mare systematically field-goaled Seattle back into contention before Josh Wilson took Stafford’s 5th pick to the house, sealing the game for the teal warriors. Up Next: Arizona Cardinals
25		3-5	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: @Tennessee Titans
26		2-6	-	Washington lost Clinton Portis to a concussion that has kept Brian Westbrook out for the last 2 Eagles’ games but that might not be so bad. Ladell Betts looked like a workhorse on his way to a futile 70 yards and a touchdown. Up Next: Denver Broncos
27		1-7	4	Tampa Bay may not have any healthy/good receivers, or consistency from their fair weather baller tight end… or any resistance to opposition rush attacks… and their corners are getting burned way too much come to think of it. BUT they do have a victory and ensure the NFL won’t have two 0-16 teams in consecutive years. Up Next: @Miami Dolphins
28		2-6	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: Kansas City Chiefs
29		1-7	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: New Orleans Saints
30		1-7	3	Don’t get it twisted; despite managing to even the score up in garbage time with a pair of Chris Chambers’ touchdown grabs, this was a blowout. Jacksonville battered Kansas City, who despite making innumerable offseason adjustments to the whole of their franchise may actually be worse than last year. Up Next: @Oakland Raiders
31		1-7	1	I wish I could see the statistical correlation between over confident rookie quarterbacks who start slinging it like Peyton, and the fortunes of their teams. Whilst Vince Young and Josh Freeman play economical ball on their way to victories, Matt Stafford hurls 5 picks and falters after racing to a seemingly insurmountable 17 point lead. Up Next: @Minnesota Vikings
32		1-7	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: Baltimore Ravens

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 10.

]]> http://www.totalprosports.com/2009/11/11/2009-nfl-power-rankings-week-9/feed/ 0 http://www.totalprosports.com/2009/11/04/2009-nfl-power-rankings-week-8/ http://www.totalprosports.com/2009/11/04/2009-nfl-power-rankings-week-8/#comments Wed, 04 Nov 2009 20:43:36 +0000 Max Barry http://www.totalprosports.com/blog/?p=20486 However tempting it was to copy and paste the word Favre for the next 50 words I – brace yourself mainstream press – thought that other things went on between the end of week 7 and now, the bombshell aftermath of week 8. Okay, bombshell aftermath is a little strong but there are some teams who are probably rocking Hiroshima-esque headaches right now, front and center being the New York Giants who lost their third game on the bounce. Ship all banged up!

Tennessee probably have an almighty headache right about now, but theirs is circumstance of a hangover. The cause of the hangover? The almighty party that probably went down after their first win of the year on Sunday against a pretty lame Jaguars outfit. Vince Young’s Nashville abode regularly held ‘thank you’ soirees during the successful part of his first tenure signal calling for the Titans, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he gives the Titans a cause for celebration a few more times between now and the end of the year. You get the sense that despite his personal/emotional issues – issues that would be irresponsible to speculate about (hint hint internet) – he’s a well liked leader and someone capable of salvaging something out of a season that has turned out well below what even the harshest preseason critics could have predicted. (But… I will say that right here on TPS a certain someone said that the Titans had a good chance of opening up the year a demoralising 0-6. I’m just saying. Send your adulation to Max Barry on that one).

Player of the Week

Chris Johnson – I considered the likes of Osi Umenyiora and Daniel Manning who both terrorised opposition offenses this weekend, but you know what those guys have in common? Losers. Osi WAS losing whilst Manning was whooping up ON losers, and if there is one thing the TPS Performance of the Week doesn’t have time for it’s losers. We like winners, and one guy who tasted that for the first time this weekend was the most electrifying man in televised sports; C to the J. Carving Jacksonville up for 228 yards at 9.5 yards a clip and 2 TDs, Johnson hauled not just this offense but the whole of Tennessee with him as he cracked off TD runs of 52 and later 89 yards, enough to give the Titans their first win of the season.

Under the Radar Performance of the Week

Owen Daniels – This is less about his performance on Sunday, because frankly he didn’t have a performance on Sunday, and that’s the point. Daniels was withdrawn early with what was post-humorously (post-humorous for his season at least, Owen Daniels is still alive after all. Probably needs clarification) decreed as a torn ACL, a season ending injury. So how does he earn the ‘Under the Radar Performance of the Week’? Well, it’s more about me pouring one out for our fallen TE comrades, encompassing the loss of Chris Cooley last week. Pro Bowl balloting opened this past week and I actually gave a pre-injury Daniels my vote on the AFC side of the ball; wasted vote I guess, but Daniels has more TDs than Andre Johnson, more yards than Larry Fitzgerald, some of the softest hands at the position and balling vision paralleled by few in the National Football League. An integral part of Houston’s offense? Undoubtedly.

The Biggest Movers and Shakers

3 defeats on the bounce sees the Giants slide just that, 3 slots down to 7. Keeping them company, the Bills also slide 3 as the magnanimous Ryan Fitzpatrick era continues to bumble.

In the war of the 12, 13, 14, and15th ranked nebulus, it’s Dallas and Houston’s turn to rise replacing Atlanta, San Diego and New York on the bubble of greatness.

Here’s how the rest of the NFL played itself out in week 8:

Rank	Team	Record	Change	Comment
1		7-0	-	This victory – albeit not mathematically – seals the NFC South for the boys from Louisiana, but it was in less than convincing fashion. They might be a little bruised from two tough outings against the Falcons and Dolphins, but they’ve come out unscathed and remain perfection in the NFL. Up Next: Carolina Panthers
2		7-0	-	Peyton Manning had an off day. When Derek Anderson has an off day he makes 2 completions and throws 3 picks, so remember that an off day consisting of 31 completions and 347 yards is all relevant. Nevertheless, Manning’s ‘struggles’ allowed San Francisco to make Indy sweat a lot more than they should have. Up Next: Houston Texans
3		5-2	–	BYE WEEK Up Next: @Denver Broncos
4		5-2	1	People seem to forget about the Eagles when they talk about the top end of the National Football League, but what they’ve done in these opening 8 weeks has been nothing short of heroic. Remember that this was a team that played with a backup QB for 2 games and still amassed more passing yards in said games than Derek Anderson has all season, has been sans a 100% Brian Westbrook all year and has lost both their starting and replacement middle linebackers to season ending injuries. They now sit atop of the NFC East. Respect Philadelphia. Up Next: Dallas Cowboys
5		7-1	1	I don’t want to talk about the obvious Minnesota/Green Bay touch point that we’ve all heard about a million times this week, but instead I wanted to say this; can you be more embarrassed as a defensive back than by what happened during Percy Harvin’s 51 yard strike? 3 Packers’ DBs leapt into each other, effectively wiping themselves out of the play. Oh and Brett Favre, Brett Favre, Brett Favre. Kill me. Up Next: BYE
6		4-3	1	I’ve talked a few times about how Baltimore’s front 7 has seemed a split second too slow, a step behind play and prone to concentration lapses in the secondary all year, but they really stepped up  against a no longer undefeated Denver. Baltimore are a more potent than last year on offense, so if they can put to bed these soft 20+ point defensive issues then maybe they can right the ship in an AFC North war they’re currently losing. Up Next: @Cincinnati Bengals
7		5-3	3	I really felt the loss to Arizona would spark something in the Giants to rescue a misfiring offense and uncharacteristically lame pass D from the midseason doldrums they’ve found themselves in, but after a pair of costly picks and another bout of critical big play defensive lapses, New York find themselves on the wrong end of the scorecard for the third week running. Up Next: San Diego Chargers
8		5-2	1	BYE WEEK Up Next: Miami Dolphins
9		5-2	1	BYE WEEK Up Next: Baltimore Ravens
10		4-3	2	The Packers’ line is killing Aaron Rodgers right now. The defense is so-so, but posted behind a line ranking 31st in sacks allowed, a rookie tackle and averaging 5.7 hits to the cranium per game, it’s very hard for Green Bay to get anything going on offense. Up Next: @Tampa Bay Buccaneers
11		6-1	-	Reality check. It has been a sweet run and they’ve out performed everyone’s preseason expectations, but Kyle Orton lacks a big time arm and when asked to chase a game he came up short; quite literally on most throws, as well as metaphorically on key 3rd down situations. Up Next: Pittsburgh Steelers
12		5-3	3	How do you lose a league-wide top 3 tight end from your offense, bench your erratic fumble prone starting back, throw two picks and be down 10-6 all before the half, and yet still win? Hmm… maybe because Houston are actually a really good team that people inaccurately hate on and are about to see waltz their way to 10 wins. MARK MY WORDS!!! Up Next: @Indianapolis Colts
13		5-2	4	The Cowboys are playing some good football right now, but they’re hampered by being boys amongst men in a division boasting two of the best teams in football. As the winter months roll in can Dallas keep it up, or will their true star studded surrender monkey colours shine through. Up Next: @Philadelphia Eagles
14		4-4	2	Offense? Check. Defense? Check. Special teams… ah. The Jets dominated this game through the air (Keller and Edwards both reached 70 yards, Mark Sanchez was an economical 20/35, 236 yards and 2 TDs), bullied a usually stout Miami run stop unit (Thomas Jones went over 100 yards, continuing his sparkling twilight years form) and held strong on defense. So where did it go wrong? A Shonn Greene fumble, and a pair of Ted Ginn returns. Totally unsatisfying for a fan of deserved victories. Up Next: BYE
15		4-3	2	San Diego are like the turtles of the National Football League; their tough exterior and explosive weapons (see as I masterfully oscillate between metaphor and reality) hides a soft underbelly that lacks depth at key positions. This was the Vincent Jackson show, but that could be true of most San Diego games this year. Up Next: @New York Giants
16		4-3	2	On paper the Falcons made a decent fist of this, but in reality it was a very sloppy outing for Matt Ryan and co with multiple near interceptions, red zone snafus and costly picks that were ultimately too much to overcome on a night that the Saints were there for the beating. Also if you want the definition of a takeaway, check out Brent Grimes’ interception. Out. Of. This. World. Up Next: Washington Redskins
17		4-3	1	What happened to Matt Forte? This guy was the perfect blend of bruising and blister in his rookie year, offering soft hands in the passing game that made even Kyle Orton look like a capable starter. He has no chemistry at all with Jay Cutler right now, and he looks very ineffectual albeit behind a mediocre line. Just for statistical reference: through week 8 of the NFL last season, Forte had 6 TDs and 738 total yards. As of Sunday, he has just 585 yards and just 3 TDs in 2009. Up Next: Arizona Cardinals
18		4-3	2	Every year Kurt Warner allows himself one game to totally implode in spectacular fashion, and then everyone points at his tiny hands and says, “there. I told you so”. Last year against the Jets the Cardinals got mauled after 3 INTs and 4 fumbles, and in 2009 it was the Panthers’ turn to capitalise as Kurt Warner’s 5 picks and 1 fumble gifted Carolina’s red hot running back troupe the time needed to grind out a victory. Up Next: @Chicago Bears
19		3-4	-	Miami were bailed out by Ted Ginn’s back to back 100 and 101 yard returns to the house, because they honestly did very little in the rest of this contest. The irony to this performance is that 3 years on from being drafted 9th almost solely based on his returns ability, it takes losing his job to the now IR-ed Patrick Cobbs to kick start his special team potency. Patrick Willis, Leon Hall, Darrelle Revis and LaMarr Woodley; all drafted after him. I’m just saying. Up Next: @New England Patriots
20		3-4	-	The Alex Smith 2.0 era got off to a promising start against a tight pass defense – worth pointing out that his interception was a ‘receiver’ INT when Michael Crabtree palmed the ball into the air for a waiting Bob Sanders. Smith put decent zip on the ball and impressively picked up the Colts’ pass blitz speared by the red hot Dwight Freeney. He laboured on 3rd downs, but baby steps. Up Next: Tenessee Titans
21		2-5	-	What is a Marcus Trufant? Seriously. I saw plays where he wasn’t even looking at the receiver opposite him. So he was looking at the quarterback under center right? NO!? He used to be one of the tightest clamp corners in the league, and now he’s getting called for pass interference 3 times and being absolutely dummied by Miles Austin. Seattle need a long term option at QB, a new running back, a Walter Jones replacement, depth behind Sean Locklear, new safeties, an attitude adjustment for TJ Houshmandzadeh, a dominant defensive end/tackle and corners. Up Next: Detroit Lions
22		3-4	3	Coming into this game Arizona ranked first against the run. They’re now ranked 9th. I don’t think there is a better testament to the carnage the Williams/Stewart two man wrecking crew is causing right now. Up Next: @New Orleans Saints
23		1-6	4	I’ve eulogised about Chris Johnson above, and rightly so – the guy won this football game by himself – but give credit to Vince Young. Ok he wasn’t statistically gaudy but he made some very adroit plays on third down and after a mixed bag during his first era at Tennessee’s helm, his athletic ability still puts linebackers on their heels, and critically, out of CJ’s grill. Up Next: @San Francisco 49ers
24		3-4	1	Follow me on the maths here: hand off to MJD, 80 yard score. Hand off to MJD, 79 yard score. Hmm… Do you A) give your greatest offensive weapons and one of the best backs in the NFL more carries, or do you B) give him a total of 9 touches and call it a day. What?! 8 carries?! WHAT ARE YOU DOING! Jacksonville seriously doesn’t want to win sometimes. Up Next: Kansas City Chiefs
25		3-5	3	The Bills know all about having pass protection issues, but they’re less familiar with the art of causing them. Well, they did a great job in said art against Houston early, flustering Matt Schaub into a pair of well earned interceptions, but then Aaron Schobel remembered that he’s Aaron Schobel. So when he isn’t secretly being the best defensive end in the AFC, he’s sitting on the sidelines injured. Satisfied with a tremendous first half Schobel retired to the medical room, taking with him any hope Buffalo had of a victory on Sunday. Up Next: BYE
26		2-5	2	BYE WEEK Up Next: @Atlanta Falcons
27		1-6	1	BYE WEEK Up Next: @Jacksonville Jaguars
28		2-6	1	JaMarcus Russell can’t get it done, so looking ahead to 2010 you’d think quarterback – in a draft with an abundance of talent at the position – would be the sensible course of option. Well, 1) Al Davis is dumb and paid Russell too much to dump him this early, and 2) Al Davis is dumb and will see Taylor Mays’ 40 time as too delectable to resist. Up Next: BYE
29		1-7	3	Ha! A streak of 17 consecutive losses is ended when the Rams visit the only other team that could achieve such a lofty and ambitious goal, the Lions. Weird, irony filled crapfest would be my description of this matchup. Up Next: BYE
30		1-6	2	See if you can find Matt Stafford’s interception online. For those who haven’t seen it, the ball was tipped into the endzone where Rams’ safety James Butler made a very astute grab. Unfortunately what was less astute was when he ran out of the endzone, turned around, ran back into his own endzone in an attempt to make the highlight reel 101 yard pick-six, only to be tackled and a safety be awarded. Dumbest 2-point concession I’ve ever seen. Up Next: @Seattle Seahawks
31		0-7	-	BYE WEEK Up Next: Green Bay Packers
32		1-7	1	I’m sort of undecided about how I felt watching the Browns on Sunday. Cleveland’s pass rush is bad, don’t get me wrong, but it isn’t as terrible as people like to make out, and I actually commend Rob Ryan for his creative use of safety Abram Elam, Kamerion Wimbley and of course Shaun Rogers; 3 dynamic pass rushing threats. But at the same time, every other part of this organisation stinks. Ok hang on, I’ve made up my mind. I think the Browns are a horrible team. That wasn’t as hard as I thought it was going to be. Up Next: BYE

Be sure to check back next week with our NFL Power Rankings post week 9