Nnnnnnnoooooot quite. The computer gave hardly a passing glance to last night's nail-biter against the Ravens as the Pats retained their stranglehold on the top spot. However, this weekend's matchup between them and the #2 Steelers has gone from a guaranteed Pats W to a serious question mark. We may actually see a line for a Patriots game where they're less than a two touchdown favorite.
The playoff picture is really starting to take form as we reach the home stretch. Notice once again that the top 7 teams in this week's rankings are division leaders. Every team in the top 13 (with the exception of the Eagles) find themselves in striking distance for the playoffs....
1) (1) Patriots (.8675)
2) (3) Steelers (.7402)
3) (2) Colts (.7183)
4) (4) Cowboys (.7052)
5) (5) Packers (.6322)
Should the Patriots have lost last night? Probably. But for the record, they won that game fair and square. The refs did not give it to the Pats, the Ravens did. They killed themselves all game long with stupid penalties, and everything called down the stretch was legit. Meanwhile, the Steelers D was dominant against Cincy, holding Palmer to just 13 of 44 passing. The Colts struggled for their win, and thus the computer gods dropped them a spot. And on Thursday night, a Favre-less Pack put up a valiant effort, but the Boys proved to be too much.
6) (7) Buccaneers (.5684)
7) (6) Seahawks (.5529)
8) (9) Giants (.5068)
9) (8) Jaguars (.4917)
10) (11) Titans (.4741)
11) (10) Eagles (.4660)
12) (13) Chargers (.4598)
The Bucs really impress me. They have a good defense and seem to find a way to put points on the board every week with a patchwork offense. The Seahawks and Giants don't impress me, but they impress the computer. The Jags are legit and will be a problem for anyone in the playoffs. The Eagles and Chargers pretty much stink as far as I'm concerned, but they keep turning in decent efforts to stay in the top 12.
13) (17) Vikings (.4489)
14) (14) Cardinals (.4276)
15) (12) Redskins (.4110)
16) (16) Texans (.3807)
17) (15) Saints (.3783)
18) (19) Ravens (.3608)
19) (26) Panthers (.3564)
20) (21) Browns (.3550)
Barring some unforseen circumstance, the Vikes will make a push to the top ten of these rankings within the next couple weeks. They're out of their minds right now and Adrian Peterson is a freak of nature. All the best teams have one freak of nature on them. The Pats have Adailus Thomas, the Colts have Bob Sanders, and the Vikings have All Day. Meanwhile, the Cardinals continue to live up to their potential (finally) after an impressive win against #20 Cleveland, who I have been calling a joke all year. They were exposed this weekend, folks. They simply can't play against good defenses. And when they can't score over 30, they can't win. Carolina got mad love from the computer for their 31-14 shelacking of the Niners, the Saints may have literally fumbled away their playoff hopes, and the Ravens jump a spot for their valiant effort, even if they are crybabies.
21) (25) Raiders (.3465)
22) (22) Bengals (.3401)
23) (20) Chiefs (.3360)
24) (18) Lions (.3192)
25) (24) Bears (.3177)
26) (23) Broncos (.3136)
This group is littered with the could-have-beens. The Broncos choked away two in a row against mediocre teams, the Bears choked one away to ELI MANNING of all people, the Lions were 6-2, but remembered they were the Lions, the Chiefs imploded the second Larry Johnson got hurt, and the Bengals have showed that it doesn't matter how much talent you put on a football field if you can't play as a team.
27) (27) Falcons (.2684)
28) (28) Rams (.2608)
29) (29) Bills (.2522)
30) (32) Jets (.2451)
31) (30) Dolphins (.1720)
32) (31) 49ers (.1625)
How are the Bills 29? One of the easiest schedules in the league coupled with playing a Redskins team last week that simply was in no condition for football. And they still needed a mental lapse from Joe Gibbs to pull it out. The Jets exploded on offense and very likely salted away any shreds of confidence that may have existed for the Mimi Dolphins. The Rams are coming alive of late winning three of their last four (and one Gus Ferotte fumble away from being winners of four straight).
Faces at the U.S. Open
Comments (8)
If the Browns are a joke for losing to the Cardinals, then what are the Steelers? It's the Cardinals who are pretenders - beating Whisenhunt's old rivals (except for the worst of 'em, Baltimore), but losing twice to San Francisco, and to St. Louis, Carolina and Washington.
Other than that, I like your system. Keep it up.
Dan TM is Stupendous Man | 12/04/07, 01:21 PM
Report Offensive CommentIf the Pats are favored by more than 10 points that will be a joke and anyone who doesnt clean up at the sportsbook by taking that bet doesnt know how to make money in the gambling world by being smarter than the house.
Cassidy's House: Smoke>Fire | 12/04/07, 01:22 PM
Report Offensive CommentDan TM, I never said the Browns are a joke, I said that they need to come a long way before they can really consider themselves contenders. They have ZERO defense, and unless they can score 30+ points they seem to be unable to win. And in the playoffs, it's really really really really hard to put up 30+, especially if you're the 6 seed and on the road (which they likely will be).
Cassidy: Perhaps, but I feel like it'll be over 10. Say you give the Pats 3 for being at home, that means that straight-up they are only a touchdown better than the Steelers. Sadly, I think they are.
Your Crazy Uncle Jamo | 12/04/07, 02:03 PM
Report Offensive CommentCheck your fanhood Jamo, the Steelers can play with anybody, and the colder, muddier, and more back east the game is in December favors the Steelers more so than the Pats who really tons on the precision passing game to win. Notice how Brady looked awful in the wind last night: 18 completions, season low.
Cassidy's House: Smoke>Fire | 12/04/07, 02:14 PM
Report Offensive Commentshould say rely not really, fyi
Cassidy's House: Smoke>Fire | 12/04/07, 02:15 PM
Report Offensive CommentI don't understand??? Eagles are ranked 11, and the bills 29???? You said the bills had "one of the easiest schedules in the league". From what I understand, they had one of the harder schedules.
How are the Raiders ranked higher than the Loins and broncos?
NYsportsfan1 | 12/04/07, 02:25 PM
Report Offensive CommentOkay NYsportsfan, good questions. Let's take them one at a time.
The Eagles are, in my opinion, too high. I think the belong in the 20s. They've played a tough schedule, so that helps. Plus, they nearly beat two playoff teams with A.J. Feeley as their quarterback. And despite they're struggles, they still have a top 10 offense and a top 15 defense.
As far as the Bills go, they get to play 6 games against the AFC East, which is a joke except for the Pats and the Bills, and they get to play four against the AFC North, which features two lame teams as well. Their NFC division this year is the east, which really isn't as good as it seems (the Giants are a mess, the Eagles have no quarterback, and the Skins were nowhere near football shape on Sunday), and their two random games were home for the Broncos and a roadie at Jacksonville. So yeah, it's got it's difficulties (Pitt, NE twice, Jac, Dal), but that's pretty much it. They have lost all the games they were expected to lose and won against some bad teams.
The Raiders lost to the Lions and the Broncos in weeks 1 and 2, so that doesn't really matter anymore. The Raiders have won two in a row (Sunday against the Broncos) while the Lions have lost four in a row and the Broncos have lost two in a row (again, Sunday to the Raiders). Also, Oakland's defense gives up 4 points per game less than the Lions and 6 points per game less than the Broncos (who allow the second most points in the league). And their offenses are actually statistically pretty close to each other.
Your Crazy Uncle Jamo | 12/04/07, 04:13 PM
Report Offensive CommentI don't know, Cassidy. I think the Steelers definitely can win, but it's going to be incredibly hard. Two mediocre games for the Pats can't wipe out all the domination they enjoyed earlier this year.
Your Crazy Uncle Jamo | 12/04/07, 04:15 PM
Report Offensive CommentAdd a comment
Remember to keep it clean. Bad words will get filtered, and offensive comments will be removed. More Guidelines