1. Kansas City Chiefs (7-0) Last Week: 2
The Chiefs are the last undefeated team standing. How did K.C. go from a league-worst 2-14 record in 2012 to a perfect 7-0 start in 2013? In short, the Chiefs’ aggressive-minded defensive unit has made critical plays and forced timely turnovers. The Chiefs rank first in the NFL in points per game allowed (10.8) and total sacks (30). They also hold the league-lead in turnover ratio with 19 takeaways versus 8 giveaways.
2. Seattle Seahawks (6-1) Last Week: 3
Russell Wilson had his best game of the season on Thursday night at Arizona, completing 18 of 29 passes for 235 yards, with TD passes of 31 yards to Sidney Rice, 15 yards to Zach Miller and a 1 yard pass to Kellen Davis.
3. Denver Broncos (6-1) Last Week: 1
Amazing to think that the Broncos’ 33 points scored on Sunday night was their season low. The Broncos unquestionably feature one of the best offenses ever, but can they win a championship with a sub-par defense that allows 28.1 points per game?
4. Indianapolis Colts (5-2) Last Week: 6
The Colts gave the 49ers their only home loss in Week 2, handed the Seahawks their only loss of 2013 in Week 5 and took down the purported “unstoppable” Broncos on Sunday Night Football… With No. 1 WR Reggie Wayne out for the season with a torn ACL, will the Colts try to acquire a receiver at the trade deadline?
5. New England Patriots (5-2) Last Week: 4
The Pats were victims of one of the worst calls in league history in their overtime loss to the Jets… Tom Brady was held without a TD pass for the second time in the last three games, a legitimate concern for the Patriots’ offense moving forward.
6. New Orleans Saints (5-1) Last Week: 5
The Saints return to action with a home contest versus the pesky Bills on Sunday.
7. San Francisco 49ers (5-2) Last Week: 7
The 49ers played exceptionally well in all phases of the game at Tennessee, running the ball with authority, playing cutthroat defense and scoring a special-teams TD via a Kassim Osgood recovered muffed punt that he returned to the house.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) Last Week: 11
The Bengals had already beaten the Patriots and the Packers, but their victory over the Lions at Ford Field may have been their most impressive win of the season. Andy Dalton played his best game of the season (24-for-34 for 372 yards with 3 TD) and Mike Nugent hit a game-winning field goal as time expired for the second week in a row.
9. Green Bay Packers (4-2) Last Week: 12
The Packers' defense has surrendered just 39 points in their last three contests, impelling a three-game win streak that put Green Bay atop the NFC North for the first time this season.
10. San Diego Chargers (4-3) Last Week: 15
Philip Rivers continued his torrid MVP-pace in Sunday’s win… The Chargers suddenly look like a dangerous playoff contender.
11. Dallas Cowboys (4-3) Last Week: 16
The Cowboys are 3-0 in division play, Tomy Romo is playing some of the best football of his career and the defense is playing at an elite level, despite the absence of recently injured defensive end DeMarcus Ware.
12. Detroit Lions (4-3) Last Week: 8
The Lions’ pass defense was torched on Sunday, surrendering 364 passing yards, including 155 yards to Bengals star wideout A.J. Green.
13. Chicago Bears (4-3) Last Week: 10
Josh McCown was outstanding in relief of Jay Cutler (out at least four weeks with a groin injury), posting a passing rater of 119.6. He completed 14 of 20 passes for 204 yards and a touchdown in the Bears' loss to the Redskins. However, McCown can’t be relied upon to win a shootout match every week, which is a problem considering the Bears’ defense is seemingly getting worse and worse by the game.
14. New York Jets (4-3) Last Week: 20
An egregious call propelled the Jets to an overtime victory over the Pats. Even so, the Jets demonstrated yet another dominating performance on defense, proving this club won’t go away any time soon.
15. Tennessee Titans (3-4) Last Week: 14
Tennessee has lost three games in a row to quality opponents (versus Chiefs, at Seahawks, versus 49ers). Things could turn around quickly for a Titans club that has a bye in Week 8, followed up with a visit to Saint Louis and a home contest versus the winless Jags in Week 10.
16. Carolina Panthers (3-3) Last Week: 23
Cam Newton is playing at an elite level, posting a sensational 139.6 passer rating in the past two games. The Panthers’ defense, ranked third in the NFL, notched its 14th takeaway of the season on Sunday. As a team, the Panthers have a (+ 5) turnover ratio, the third best mark in the league.
17. Buffalo Bills (3-4) Last Week: 22
The Bills players have certainly bought into head coach Doug Marrone’s system and preaching. The Bills are the most banged-up team in the league, losing key players to injury virtually every game they play. Yet, the Bills refuse to quit and have pulled out upset wins over the Ravens and the Dolphins in Miami.
18. Baltimore Ravens (3-4) Last Week: 13
The Ravens are the first defending Super Bowl champion to have a losing record after seven games since the 2006 Steelers… The Ravens anemic rushing attack was dreadful again on Sunday, gaining just 2.8 yards per carry against the Steelers.
19. Miami Dolphins (3-3) Last Week: 9
Losers of three in a row, the Dolphins have quickly gone from contenders to pretenders in the AFC. Miami had the luxury of the bye week to prepare for Buffalo yet still lost, despite the Bills starting third-string QB Thad Lewis. The Dolphins head to Gillette Stadium on Sunday, where they have lost 9 of the 11 all-time meetings against the Patriots.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (3-4) Last Week: 17
The Eagles murky quarterback situation got even worse when Nick Foles suffered a head injury during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s 17-3 loss at home to the Cowboys. Matt Barkley was horrendous in relief of Foles, throwing three interceptions in his NFL debut. The Eagles better hope Michael Vick recovers from his hamstring injury that he sustained in the first half of the Oct. 6 game against the New York Giants at the Meadowlands.
21. Cleveland Browns (3-4) Last Week: 18
Brandon Weeden played terrible in the Browns’ loss to the Packers on Sunday, throwing for just 149 yards, despite 42 pass attempts. He completed just 40 percent of his passes, averaging 3.5 yards per pass attempt.
22. Arizona Cardinals (3-4) Last Week: 19
Carson Palmer told reporters that the Cardinals have “a stretch of very winnable games upcoming.” Should a QB with 8 TD versus 13 interceptions be belittling other teams, even if the upcoming opponents are the struggling Falcons, the hapless Texans and the winless Jags?
23. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-4) Last Week: 25
The Steelers won their second consecutive game on the leg of Shaun Suisham, who kicked four field goals, including the game-winner as time expired in the Steelers’ 19-16 win. Suisham has connected on all 14 field goal attempts this season.
24. Atlanta Falcons (2-4) Last Week: 24
Matt Ryan was on fire in the Falcons’ win over the Bucs, completing 20 of 26 passes with three touchdowns. The Falcons’ holes on defense were exposed, however, by a lowly Bucs club, an alarming exploit with road contests against the Cardinals and Panthers looming.
25. Washington Redskins (2-4) Last Week: 27
RG3 led his third come-from-behind victory of his young career, marching the Redskins down the field on a game-winning drive versus the Bears in the final minutes of the game. RG3 completed 18 of 29 passes for 298 yards, two touchdowns and one interception. He also ran 11 times for 84 yards.
26. St. Louis Rams (3-4) Last Week: 21
With Sam Bradford lost for the season to a torn ACL, who will the Rams turn to at QB? Will backup Kellen Clemens fill the void, or will the Rams do the unthinkable and sign Tim Tebow?
27. Oakland Raiders (2-4) Last Week: 26
After a much needed bye week, the Raiders will now battle the Steelers at home.
28. Houston Texans (2-5) Last Week: 28
Case Keenum likely won the starting QB job after his gutsy performance at Arrowhead Stadium, nearly upsetting the undefeated Chiefs… Losing linebacker Brian Cushing for the season is a major blow for a team that relies heavily on its defense.
29. New York Giants (1-6) Last Week: 31
After posting a (-16) in turnover differential in the first six weeks of the season, the Giants won the turnover battle (3 takeaways versus one giveaway) in their victory over the Vikings.
30. Minnesota Vikings (1-5) Last Week: 29
Josh Freeman doesn’t appear to be the answer at QB for the Vikings. He overthrew his receivers on 16 pass attempts in his Vikings debut, the most overthrown passes by any QB since 2006. (Via ESPN Stats and Information)
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6) Last Week: 30
The winless Bucs have lost 11 of their 12 games, dating back to last season. The Bucs likely held off firing Greg Schiano because the club has a quick turn around with a game on Thursday night versus the Panthers. But if the Bucs lose (which they probably will) at home on Thursday, will GM Mark Dominik finally dismiss Schiano from his coaching duties?
32. Jacksonville Jaguars (0-7) Last Week: 32
The Jags have been outscored 89-11 in their three home contests, scoring just three points in the second half all season at EverBank Field.
No comments:
Post a Comment