FanNation

The Fine Fifteen and the Insignificants

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<!-- / icon and title --> <!-- message --> Certainly an interesting week for the NFL. I couldn't have been more flabbergasted by the Arena Bowl Battle of Ohio or the further falling of the Saints. With that said, let's get down to business.

The Fine Fifteen

1. Indianapolis Colts (2-0) Last Week: 1- The Titans and Jeff Fisher gave them all they could handle, like they always do, but I see no reason to hold that against them. Joesph Addai looks like every bit the runner anyone could have ever hoped for him to be, Manning is Manning, and this defense looks impressive. Although not as impressive...

Lead Pipe Lock

This season (like most) I am involved in survival football, which is a style of football picking in which you pick a single winner each week, but you can only use a team once a season. IE you can only pick the Colts, Patriots, etc. to win one game.

NFL Power Rankings

Well I realize this week this post is a bit at the 11th hour, but I post my rankings yearly on multiple sites, so I might as well do the same here.  Each week I will list NFL teams in order from best to worst.  I will group them as the Fine Fifteen and as the Insignificants.  Each week I will at least post comments by my Fine Fifteen.

 The Fine Fifteen

1. Indianapolis Colts- Make any case you want for the teams below them, but no one else man-handled a team that nearly everyone is picking to make it to the Super Bowl in week one like the Colts did. If the defense can be half as affective as they were last week through the entire season, we will be looking at 16-0.

Flops of Epic Proportions

In every way possible during last night's game four match-up the Ottawa Senators were complete and utter flops.  The game began with offensive domination by the Sens and the Ducks seemed to be completely reeling after the loss of Chris Pronger for this pivotal clash.  Their defense looked absolutely inept despite the brilliant efforts of captain Scott Niedermayer.

Meanwhile the Ottawa defense played as a virtual impenetrable unit not allowing the likes of Teemu Selanne or Andy McDonald to even threaten Ray Emery.  If not for J-S Giguere, all would have been lost for the Ducks.   The Senators pressed with the first nine shots on goal during the opening period and out shot the Ducks by a lofty margin of 13 to 2.  However, it took a Daniel Alfredsson one timer with 0.3 left on the clock to give the Senators a lead.

Era of Coddling: Spite of Pronger's Suspension

While it may be understandable and necessary to ramp up the degree in which the rules in the NHL are enforced, there is simply no need for Chris Pronger to have been given a suspension for the second time in these playoffs.  When Pronger was suspended for the Holstrom hit, it was irritating but the rationale was understandable, this time Pronger was simply making a defensive play, but took his elbow too high.  Pronger certainly crossed a line, but this offense has a name and its called, "elbowing" and it carries a two minute penalty.