We’ve reached the 1/2.42857-way point of the NFL regular season, so it seems appropriate to do a power ranking.
But seriously, why now? While most TV shows, newspaper columns, and blogs like to do weekly or quarterly rankings, I find they’re worthless. I don’t dig the weekly thing because it’s hard to tell how much any game is good play by one team or bade play by the other. Besides, you shouldn’t judge very much based any one game. And so my teams would not change much from week to week.
As for the quarterly thing, that’s cool, but it seems so rigid. What if the teams are really making a switch before—do you have to wait until the next week to show it? And how well do you know the teams after Week 4. Some teams have only played 3 games, how can you really gauge where they’re headed. Most people had Dallas and Philly at the top of their rankings after four weeks (I know, I would’ve –- maybe that’s why I’m already out of my survivor pool), and where are they now? That’s how crazy the NFL has been this year.
I guess that’s why I believe that in the NFL -- like in college football, where expectations have a lot to do with rankings -- you should wait until you know the teams a little bit before you go ranking them, since any movement after will be based off that. Or maybe I’m just too lazy to rank the teams all the time, and I’m only do it now because I can’t think of another topic. Nah, that can’t be it.
So, check out the list, criticize me if you must, but remember one thing: This is a snap-shot. I don't really believe some of the teams at the top of these rankings belong there, and there are quite a few teams in the middle of the pack -- even some toward the back of the middle of the pack -- who could be at the top by season's end. With that said, let’s take a look at the first ever ‘The Examined Life’s Random Interval Power Rankings, presented by Cialis’:
1. Tennessee Titans -- That’s right, the best team in the NFL right now has Kerry Collins as their starting QB.
2. New York Giants -- The defending world champs have put up back-to-back lackluster performances, but I still think they can turn it on when they need to.
3. Pittsburgh Steelers -- The Steelers are down to their 3rd string running back… And he’s looking great.
4. Carolina Panthers -- They are always capable of delivering a real stinker when you least expect it (see: Week 6 vs. Tampa), but they also look a little scary when Delhomme and Smith are hooking up.
5. Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- I like to think of the Bucs as “Titans Lite”.
6. Arizona Cardinals -- No, your eyes don’t deceive you, I have the Arizona Cardinals as a Top 5 NFL team right now. But I think that says more about the consistency of the NFL than anything else.
7. Buffalo Bills -- This year’s Jags? They have the inexperienced QB making like a good game manager, the two-headed monster at RB, and a stingy D.
8. Washington Redskins -- They’re down, they’re up, they’re down again. The Washington Redskins: The 2008 NFL Poster Team.
9. Dallas Cowboys -- This ranking would be higher for the Tony Romo Cowboys, and lower if it was the Brad Johnson edition. Instead, think of this as a combination: The Tony Johnson Cowboys.
10. Denver Broncos -- I don’t think they can stop anybody, and they’re in my Top 10. Did I mention it’s been a crazy year?
11. Philadelphia Eagles -- They aren’t the same without Westbrook, and it’s no guarantee they’ll have him consistently the rest of the way (he’s been known to get dinged up). Still, I see them moving up from this spot.
12. Indianapolis Colts -- See directly above, only substitute “Addai” for “Westbrook”.
13. San Diego Chargers -- LT is not the LT of old. Until that changes, they’re not that scary.
14. New England Patriots -- This is probably too high, but I can’t help but keep thinking that if the Pats can somehow turn Cassel into a decent game manager they could still come back like those pesky Red Sox.
15. Green Bay Packers -- Aaron Rodgers can look really good or really bad. Sound like any other Green Bay QB's you can think of?
16. Chicago Bears -- Kyle Orton: Better than you thought.
17. Atlanta Falcons -- Better than anybody thought. Way better.
18. Jacksonville Jaguars -- Not as good as anybody thought.
19. Baltimore Ravens They’re probably lower than they deserve to be, but I don’t trust Flacco. If he plays solidly, they can be “Bucs Lite”, which I guess would make them “Titans Lite Lite”
20. New York Jets -- They are the classic “Any given Sunday” team – they could beat or lose to just about anybody at any time.
21. New Orleans Saints -- Consistently inconsistent.
22. Houston Texans -- They’re dangerous. Not necessarily all that good. But dangerous.
23. Miami Dolphins -- He might not be the coach, and it’s still early is the process, but this looks like a Parcells team.
24. Minnesota Vikings -- Not nearly as good on the field as they are on paper. Probably because on paper the QB is just one of 22 positions, and on the field it’s a lot more.
25. Cleveland Browns -- They can’t score. Like, at all.
26. St. Louis Rams -- Higher than the Niners despite just firing their coach. Awesome.
27. San Francisco 49ers -- I don’t wanna talk about it.
28. Seattle Seahawks -- Wow, they went from perennial division winner to bad really fast, didn’t they?
29. Oakland Raiders -- Oakland may have won on Sunday, and they do have some young talent (especially at RB), but they still have a puppet coach and a decaying corpse calling all the shots.
30. Kansas City Chiefs -- They’re a one star team who’s star is petulant, suspended, and past his prime. And that’s the good news.
31. Cincinnati Bengals -- Marvin Lewis is so fired, he can’t even feign interest in his press conferences anymore.
32. Detroit Lions -- No talent, no direction, no hope.
UPDATE: I mentioned in my Friday post that I think the new LaDainian Tomlinson/Troy Palomalu Nike commercial is the new record holder for Best NFL Ad Of All Time, so it should come as no surprise that it was directed by one of all-time favorite directors, David Fincher. If you haven't seen it -- in which case you probably don't like football much, since it's always on during games -- or just want to check it out again, here it is (hat tip to FilmDrunk.com for the link):
No comments:
Post a Comment