Phantom's Weekly NFL PowerRankings

[Hostrauser]

I expect both Philly and Dallas to make the playoffs. But, honestly, I'm expecting the Iggles to catch up to and pass the 'Boys for the NFC East title.

[jacjar1]

Tennessee will be the sleeper team to watch out for. E George is getting back into the swing of things and they will be there come playoff time.

The boys will crash and burn and the eagles will run out of prayers!

[Hostrauser]

I wouldn't consider Tennessee a "sleeper" team... they've been in the Top 3 in my rankings for weeks, and virtually everyone considers them a contender for the Super Bowl.

[formermarcher]

I wouldn't consider Tennessee a "sleeper" team... they've been in the Top 3 in my rankings for weeks, and virtually everyone considers them a contender for the Super Bowl.

This is just me, but I have them winning the Superbowl

[jacjar1]

I wouldn't consider Tennessee a "sleeper" team... they've been in the Top 3 in my rankings for weeks, and virtually everyone considers them a contender for the Super Bowl.

This is just me, but I have them winning the Superbowl

They were rated at the top but everyone was focusing on New England and that Buffalo defense (arugggg) then attention turned to the cryboys and now Philly. After this week I see them as the #1 contender.

[Hostrauser]

Don't look now, but there's been a shake-up in the Top 10. New England takes the top spot thanks to an impressive victory over fellow Top 10 team Indy. Kansas City slips all the way to #4 because they've been barely beating bad teams. Lots of competitive teams overall... except for last year's Super Bowl teams, who are both in the Bottom 10.

NFL RANKINGS -- The Top Ten:
1. New England (52)
2. Philadelphia (46)
3. St. Louis (45)
4. Kansas City (41)
5. Tennessee (35)
6. Miami (34)
7. Baltimore (33)
8. Indianapolis (31)
9. Dallas (30)
10. Cincinnati (30)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Also-Rans:
11. Seattle (29)
12. Carolina (28)
13. Denver (24)
14. Green Bay (17)
15. Chicago (17)
16. New Orleans (16)
17. New York Jets (16)
18t. San Francisco (12)
18t. Houston (12)
18t. Buffalo (12)
21. Washington (10)
22. Jacksonville (6)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Dregs:
23. Detroit (5)
24. Minnesota (4)
25. Tampa Bay (4)
26. Cleveland (3)
27. Oakland (3)
28. Pittsburgh (2)
29. San Diego (-3)
30. Atlanta (-5)
31. New York Giants (-14)
32. Arizona (-21)

Stats of the Week:
Easiest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1. Kansas City (16-32) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
2t. Tennessee (18-30) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
2t. Minnesota (18-30) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
4t. Seattle (19-29) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
4t. Pittsburgh (19-29) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)

Hardest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1. San Diego (32-16) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
2. Dallas (31-17) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
3t. Baltimore (30-18) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
3t. Washington (30-18) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
3t. Oakland (30-18) (1 Win, 3 Losses)

[Hostrauser]

Defense wins Championships. When the Rams won their Super Bowl (and made it the second time) it wasn't the heroics of Kurt Warner that did it (well, not entirely), it was their solid defense. Baltimore, too, won when Ray Lewis and company owned the football field. Guess which two teams are coming on strong at the end of the season?

Also, here's how you sort the Super Bowl Contenders out from the Super Bowl Pretenders: over the past four weeks, New England, Indianapolis, and Dallas, all had three of the Top 5 most difficult schedules. Against some of the NFL's best teams, New England went 4-0 (contender), Indianapolis went 3-1 (contender), and Dallas went 1-3 (pretender).

NFL RANKINGS -- The Top Ten:
1. New England (55)
2. Philadelphia (52)
3. Indianapolis (42)
4. St. Louis (41)
5. Baltimore (40)
6. Miami (34)
7. Denver (32)
8. Kansas City (30)
9. Tennessee (25)
10. Seattle (24)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Also-Rans:
11. Cincinnati (22)
12t. Dallas (21)
12t. Minnesota (21)
14. Green Bay (20)
15. Carolina (17)
16. Buffalo (15)
17. Chicago (13)
18. San Francisco (10)
19. New York Jets (10)
20. New Orleans (9)
21. Tampa Bay (8)
22. Washington (6)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Dregs:
23. Jacksonville (6)
24. Pittsburgh (3)
25. Houston (2)
26. Cleveland (0)
27t. Atlanta (-4)
27t. Oakland (-4)
29. Detroit (-6)
30. San Diego (-7)
31. New York Giants (-13)
32. Arizona (-29)

Stats of the Week:
Easiest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1t. St. Louis (20-32) (4 Wins, 0 Losses)
1t. Pittsburgh (20-32) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
3t. Green Bay (21-31) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
3t. Tampa Bay (21-31) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
3t. Kansas City (21-31) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)

Hardest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1. Dallas (37-15) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
2t. Miami (32-20) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
2t. Oakland (32-20) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
4t. New England (31-21) (4 Wins, 0 Losses)
4t. Indianapolis (31-21) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)

[Hostrauser]

When I first did the rankings this week, and Buffalo was tied with Cincinnati, I was alerted to a flaw in my formula which required adjustment. And so I continue to fine-tune this ranking system: I realized I was giving strength of schedule WAY too much weight, and chopped its contribution to the rankings in half. This served two purposes: it made the rankings look more reasonable, and it helped eliminate a lot of ties. There were still a few anomalies: for example, the Vikings lost and the Bengals won, but the Vikings moved ahead of the Bengals in the rankings (thanks to Cincinnati's enormously weak schedule and the Bengals' 18-point drubbing to the Ravens two weeks ago). But hey, those sorta things happen from time to time.

So, here we go...

NFL RANKINGS -- The Top Ten:
1. Philadelphia (53.5)
2. New England (51.0)
3. St. Louis (45.5)
4. Indianapolis (44.5)
5. Kansas City (41.0)
6. Denver (31.0)
7. Baltimore (29.0)
8. Tennessee (28.0)
9. Dallas (24.5)
10t. Miami (23.5)
10t. Green Bay (23.5)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Also-Rans:
12. Minnesota (19.5)
13. Cincinnati (19.0)
14. New Orleans (17.5)
15. Carolina (17.0)
16. Seattle (16.5)
17. Tampa Bay (16.0)
18. Chicago (16.0)
19. Buffalo (14.5)
20. New York Jets (11.5)
21. Pittsburgh (4.0)
22. Jacksonville (3.0)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Dregs:
23. San Francisco (2.5)
24. Washington (-2.0)
25. Oakland (-6.0)
26. Houston (-7.0)
27. Detroit (-9.5)
28. San Diego (-11.0)
29. Cleveland (-12.5)
30. Atlanta (-12.5)
31. New York Giants (-22.5)
32. Arizona (-23.0)

Stats of the Week:
Boy do the California teams suck this season. The three NFL teams from the Golden State are a combined 13-29, and all three of them are in the Bottom 10 of my rankings.

Easiest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1. Green Bay (19-37) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
2t. Tampa Bay (20-36) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
2t. Kansas City (20-36) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
4t. Pittsburgh (22-34) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
4t. Cincinnati (22-34) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
4t. Baltimore (22-34) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)

Toughest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1. Miami (37-19) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
2. Atlanta (35-21) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
3. Oakland (34-22) (1 Win, 3 Losses)
4t. Philadelphia (33-23) (4 Wins, 0 Losses)
4t. Dallas (33-23) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
4t. Cleveland (33-23) (0 Wins, 4 Losses)

[Hostrauser]

It was a Patriots-Rams Super Bowl just a couple of years ago... and it could very easily end up that way again this year...

NFL RANKINGS -- The Top Ten:
1. New England (55.5)
2. St. Louis (54.0)
3. Philadelphia (45.0)
4. Denver (42.5)
5. Indianapolis (39.0)
6. Baltimore (37.5)
7. Kansas City (33.0)
8. Tennessee (31.0)
9t. Miami (30.0)
9t. Minnesota (30.0)
9t. Green Bay (30.0)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Also-Rans:
12. Dallas (26.5)
13. Seattle (23.0)
14. Carolina (22.0)
15. Chicago (16.5)
16. Cincinnati (14.0)
17. New Orleans (13.5)
18. San Francisco (13.0)
19. New York Jets (10.0)
20. Jacksonville (10.0)
21. Tampa Bay (9.5)
22. Buffalo (8.0)
23. Pittsburgh (7.5)

NFL RANKINGS -- The Dregs:
24. Washington (-6.0)
25. Atlanta (-6.5)
26. Houston (-9.5)
27. Detroit (-10.0)
28. Oakland (-16.0)
29. San Diego (-16.5)
30. Cleveland (-18.0)
31. New York Giants (-26.0)
32. Arizona (-28.5)

Stats of the Week:
They barely avoid the bottom ranking thanks to one more early season win than Arizona, but is there a worse team in football than the New York Giants? The G-Men have now scored less than 14 points (a mere two TDs) in TEN straight games. TEN. TEN!! Are you getting this? How can you go nearly three months without scoring multiple touchdowns in a game? That's just pathetic.

Here's a mathematical oddity: not only are they tied in the rankings, but Miami and Minnesota were tied in every single sub-caption, too.

Easiest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1. Green Bay (18-42) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
2t. Tampa Bay (21-39) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
2t. New Orleans (21-39) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
2t. Pittsburgh (21-39) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
5. Carolina (22-38) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)

Toughest schedules over past four games (with opponents' combined records):
1t. Miami (40-20) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
1t. Minnesota (40-20) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
1t. Cleveland (40-20) (0 Wins, 4 Losses)
4. Indianapolis (38-22) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)
5t. Philadelphia (36-24) (3 Wins, 1 Loss)
5t. New York Jets (36-24) (2 Wins, 2 Losses)

[formermarcher]

Now here's a situation:

Lets say the Eagles lost to the Redskins and the Cowboys beat the Saints.
Now granted the Skins beating the Eagles is a longshot, but lets say they did.

That would give the Cowboys and the Eagles the same record at 11-5. The Eagles and Cowboys have both beat each other once in the season, so we take a look at divison matches. The Cowboys would have won 5 of the 6 games, with the Eagles winning only 4.
Would that not give the Cowboys the divison then? I could be mistaken, but I don't think I am.

So Cowboys get the divison...St. Louis gets #1 overall in the NFC with home-field advantage. So who would get the first round bye in the #2 seed? Either the Cowboys or the Panthers...but the Cowboys had beaten the Panthers earlier this season, giving them the bye, and Carolina the #3 seed overall, assuming Carolina won their final game.

I do believe that is correct...tell me if I'm wrong.
But the Redskins beating the Eagles? Maybe in my dreams...

[Hostrauser]

It's all a moot point, now, since the Boys gakked in the Big Easy.

Here's the YEAR END RANKINGS (with lots of statistical anomalies at the end).

1. New England (69.0)
2. Kansas City (63.5)
3. Indianapolis (60.0)
4. Tennessee (57.5)
5. Green Bay (54.5)
6. St. Louis (53.5)
7. Philadelphia (53.0)
8. Baltimore (45.5)
9. Denver (43.0)
10. Miami (40.5)
11. Seattle (39.5)
12. Carolina (31.0)
13. Minnesota (30.5)
14. Dallas (29.0)
15. San Francisco (24.5)
16. New Orleans (21.0)
17. Buffalo (10.5)
18. New York Jets (9.5)
19. Tampa Bay (8.0)
20. Cincinnati (6.5)
21. Pittsburgh (4.0)
22. Chicago (0.5)
23. Jacksonville (-1.5)
24. Cleveland (-4.0)
25. Washington (-9.0)
26. Houston (-12.0)
27. Detroit (-12.5)
28. Atlanta (-15.0)
29. Oakland (-20.0)
30. New York Giants (-22.0)
31. San Diego (-25.5)
32. Arizona (-40.5)

Of the playoff teams, it's easy to see that a couple are "pretenders":
New England (69.0)
Kansas City (63.5)
Indianapolis (60.0)
Tennessee (57.5)
Green Bay (54.5)
St. Louis (53.5)
Philadelphia (53.0)
Baltimore (45.5)
Denver (43.0)
Seattle (39.5)
Carolina (31.0)
Dallas (29.0)

Top 5 NFL Bullies (teams who pounded their opponents; differential between points for and points against):
1. Kansas City (+152)
2. Green Bay (+135)
3. St. Louis (+119)
4t. Indianapolis (+111)
4t. Tennessee (+111)

Top 5 NFL Sad Sacks (teams who GOT pounded by their opponents; differential between points for and points against):
1. Arizona (-227)
2. New York Giants (-144)
3. San Diego (-128)
4. Houston (-125)
5. Atlanta (-123)

Top 5 EASIEST schedules in the NFL this year:
1. Kansas City (Opponents: 107-149)
2. St. Louis (Opponents: 111-145)
3. Carolina (Opponents: 114-142)
4t. Baltimore (Opponents: 117-139)
4t. Minnesota (Opponents: 117-139)
4t. Cincinnati (Opponents: 117-139)

Top 5 HARDEST schedule in the NFL this year:
1. Houston (Opponents: 146-110)
2. Buffalo (Opponents: 145-111)
3. New York Giants (Opponents: 142-114)
4t. Jacksonville (Opponents: 139-117)
4t. Arizona (Opponents: 139-117)