Mike Blewitt’s NFL Power Rankings: End Of Season Edition

Since each NFL season carries with it the weight of expectations and the ultimate stark realities for every team and their fans, I tried something a little bit different for the final edition of NFL Power Rankings for the 2009 season.

With the end of the holiday season and the end of the NFL season running parallel to one another, I decided to get some of my friends, colleagues, and readers involved in the assessment of their respective team’s season. It’s a ranking by the people, for the people, if you will.

Also, I did not try to justify any non-playoff team being better than one who actually made “the tournament”—you’re either good enough or you’re not (I’m looking at you Steelers, Texans, and Falcons). On that note, I wish you all a Happy New Year, thanks for reading, and one last time…let’s navigate all the way from No. 1 to No. 32…

 

1.   San Diego Chargers (13-3) : Ten wins to close out the year and a red-hot offense has San Diego ranked at the top of the list. My preseason pick for the AFC Super Bowl rep looks to be in great shape all around but “uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” A well-earned bye week awaits the Bolts.

2.   Indianapolis Colts (14-2) : All one can say is “I hope they know what they’re doing.” They bailed on the 19-0 campaign only to insert starters in horrible conditions for personal milestones—seems counter intuitive. A loss in their first game of the playoffs will bring the entire organization into question but we have a week to wait on that debate.

3.   New Orleans Saints (13-3) : From 13-0 to 13-3 is not the way to close things out but the Saints don’t appear to be concerned about it. They earned home-field advantage throughout and will await some legit potential opponents for next week. The league’s No. 1 offense should be fine in the comfort of the Superdome.

4.   Minnesota Vikings (12-4) : The Vikings pounded the Giants into the next decade and earned a week off. Similar to the Saints, the Vikes will enjoy the comfort of dome and weather has been eliminated as a factor in the NFC playoffs altogether. Can Favre pull off another title and walk into the sunset? And then come back again?

5.   Dallas Cowboys (11-5) : Big D posted consecutive shutouts for first time in franchise history and grabbed the NFC East title, but this ranking is based on how I think they stack up. ML from Boston: “I came away satisfied from the season but not feeling Dallas has played their best yet—too many penalties and poor tackling.” For his sake, let’s hope he’s right. And, would Wade survive a first round loss to Philly?

6.   Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) : Despite getting shellacked in Dallas on Sunday, MM likes his team to come back and beat Dallas this week but concedes, “the defense will not get them to the Super Bowl…and anything short of that is a disappointment.” Andy Reid has never lost a first-round playoff game and if he does this week, there will be no calls for his head given the contract extension he just signed.

7.   Green Bay Packers (11-5) : The Packer bandwagon is pretty full at this stage. The sixth-ranked offense and the second-ranked defense reside in Green Bay, and QB Aaron Rodgers looks the part of a seasoned veteran, except he has no postseason experience. Arizona may not be bad place for this team to start even thought the smackdown last week was against backups.

8.   Arizona Cardinals (10-6) : The Cardinals are not an easy team to figure out. Last year, they shocked the football world and nearly won the Super Bowl after a 9-7 season so given their explosive nature on offense, it would not be wise to count them out. Looking towards 2010, a lot will depend on Kurt Warner and/or Matt Leinart’s future.

9.   New England Patriots (10-6) : A meaningless game in Houston resulted in a loss on the scoreboard and the loss of go-to WR Wes Welker who is out for the playoffs after wrecking his knee. With Tom Brady rumored to be ailing as well, the Pats’ playoff expectations have taken a hit in the public’s eyes. Even die-hard New England fan RS admits “this team seems destined for a second round playoff loss at San Diego.”

10. Cincinnati Bengals (10-6) : The AFC North champs did very little against the Jets last Sunday so that they could prepare for, um, the Jets on Sunday. Hosting a playoff game in Cincinnati will be a solid home-field advantage, but if they don’t stop the rushing attack early, they will be home early. Overall, Marvin Lewis finally has his team built the way he wants moving into the new decade.

11. New York Jets (9-7) : Living in NY, I am surrounded by slightly euphoric Jets fans this week who are dreaming of a Super Bowl appearance. DA is “very happy with Rex Ryan as he learned…and got better.” LJ adds “Sanchez’s regression was a bit alarming but I think there’s a reason to be optimistic for the future.” It seems most Jets fans would love a win this week in Cincy but are realistic about not advancing after that…for now… 

12. Baltimore Ravens (9-7) : The Ravens did what they needed to do in Oakland by running all over The Black Hole. They make the third playoff appearance in four years and will head to New England to try to advance. Joe Flacco’s less than stellar play (9TDs and 7 INTs in his last nine games) has some worried and a banged-up Ed Reed further hurts their chances to advance but with the way the Pats look, they may just steal one before bowing out.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (9-7) : MO agreed that watching the Steelers blow five fourth quarter leads was excruciating but “it might have been worse watching the Jets win two games that the other teams just handed to them.” Even with the Polamalu injury and winning out tough games against Green Bay, Baltimore, and Miami, there are no excuses for the Steelers dropping earlier games to the Chiefs and Raiders. Getting healthy, building some depth through the draft, and revamping special teams is likely to be the approach to get back to the playoffs in 2010.

14. Tennessee Titans (8-8) : Closing the season on an 8-2 run ranks them right up there at the top of the league in those last 10 games. Unfortunately, there are those pesky six losses to open the season that did not vanish from the record. But, the Vince Young Era has officially resumed and they will go into 2010 with a clear picture of who is leading them; Chris Johnson will be tearing up opposing defenses as well.

15. Atlanta Falcons (9-7) : A win over the Bucs secured consecutive winning seasons for the first time in franchise history. Unfortunately, the Falcons were the only NFC team with a winning record to miss the “second season” but DH from Atlanta is less worried about “not meeting lofty expectations” for 2009 than he is about QB “Matt Ryan not progressing from his rookie year.”

16. Houston Texans (9-7) : The Texans beat the Pats to secure their first-ever winning season but the celebration was tempered after being eliminated from the playoffs on tiebreakers. Matt Schaub led Gary Kubiak’s explosive offense very well, and the defense has plenty of talent but poor special teams play led to some close losses that find them on the outside looking in yet again.

17. Carolina Panthers (8-8) : John Fox teams never quit; you have to give him credit for that. Saddled with an aging, expensive QB in Jake Delhomme the team struggled until he was injured. Backup Matt Moore won four of the last five games to get them back to .500 which gave all the doubters “evidence” to call for Delhomme’s pink slip. Changes will be made to the roster but expect the Panthers to challenge for the playoffs in 2010.

18. San Francisco 49ers (8-8) : The Niners throttled the Rams to close out the season winning three of their last four to finish a respectable 8-8 but clearly, the expectations are higher in San Fran. Mike Singletary: “In order to make wise decisions, we have to evaluate closely what we need to do. We’re going to take our time and be thorough.” So far, the special teams coach has been axed and while Alex Smith remains the top guy for now, the QB question will rage on throughout the offseason.  

19. Denver Broncos (8-8): The most hot-and-cold team in the NFL this year along with the Giants, the Broncos 6-0 start did not hold up when they lost their last four games to miss the important January games. Rookie head coach Josh McDaniels will have to deal with more drama regarding star wideout Brandon Marshall which is likely to end up in a trade around draft time. To an extent, I feel like they overachieved based on expectation but the perception is that they choked big time in ‘09.

20. Miami Dolphins (7-9) : Miami’s playoff hopes were officially dashed with a loss to the Steelers. KK from NYC thought his Dolphins had “hope and promise with a young, flourishing QB, but momentum was lost when Ronnie Brown went down.” Never lacking confidence in his beloved Fish he “guaranteed an AFC East title” in 2010.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (7-9) : The Jags stood at 7-5 and controlled their own destiny to the playoffs only to drop their last four and end the season with a loud thud in Cleveland. Head coach Jack Del Rio is likely to stick, as he is owed $15 million over three years and rumors of the team being for sale swirl constantly these days. Del Rio tagging his QB David Garrard as “middle-tier” this week is accurate but a strange motivational tool when there is no football for such a long period after that commentary.

22. Chicago Bears (7-9) : While the Bears ended the season on a positive note by winning their last two, KL from Los Angeles summed up ‘09 by saying “this season got intercepted by another errant Cutler throw.” Ouch. The guillotine fell hard in Chicago already as six coaches were let go this week.

23. New York Giants (8-8) : The Giants uncharacteristically mailed in the last two games, getting blown out and costing people jobs, namely defensive coordinator Bill Sheridan. AJ from PA sees a glaring “need for personnel changes” and “wouldn’t be surprised to see as many as 10 new starters,” which is a long way from where the expectations were going into the season.

24. Cleveland Browns (5-11) : Jerome Harrison put the team on his back in this last month to close out 2009 on a positive note. TR says the Browns were “disappointing in every aspect” but admits that you “can’t sleep” on their first four-game winning streak since 1994. The Mangini-hating also seems to have quieted with the wins and the arrival of football guru Mike Holmgren. Promise in Cleveland? Always…

25. Oakland Raiders (5-11) : When a team is 5-10 and down eight points with three minutes to go in its final game, is punting and playing the field position/timeouts strategy really the way to go? Live a little, Tom Cable, it’s not like your job hung in the balance during the loss to the Ravens. Or maybe it did, I don’t know, but I’m not about to try to get into Al Davis’ head—I may never come back. Cable throwing JaMarcus Russell under the bus will not help save his gig since Al is apparently still a fan—we’ll know more next week regarding this soap opera.

26. Buffalo Bills (6-10) : The Bills beat up on the fake Colts in the snow and then fired the entire coaching staff following a very disappointing year that saw them finish in last place in the AFC East for the second year in a row. Interim head coach Perry Fewell will interview for the head job there but he is unlikely to land it as they look for someone with a strong resume to come in and turn this around. Bill Cowher will provide writers like me with a lot of puns, so, there’s that…

27. Kansas City Chiefs (4-12) : The Chiefs surprisingly stomped the Broncos right out of the playoffs with a resounding win at Denver. KC was a sneaky sleeper pick for many before the year but after ranking 25th in offense and 30th in defense, it appears the rebuild will continue onward towards 2010.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-13) : After the Bucs dropped the finale to Atlanta, RH wondered “Does the ship have a rudder?” which indicts everyone from the Glazers down through rookie Head Coach Raheem Morris. While Morris was officially retained, wholesale changes will need to be made to the roster and among the coaching staff. Josh Freeman has shown potential, but we all know that’s a long way from being any good at the QB position in this league.

29. Washington Redskins (4-12) : Jim Zorn was our first postseason coaching casualty as new GM Bruce Allen made his first major move after a disastrous season. The ‘Skins lost 18 of their last 24 games under Zorn and have more roster issues now than when he first came on board. Kevin H. from D.C.: “Poor coaching and bad players…you get what you see.” I think Kevin will feel just fine with new coach Mike Shanahan but will Jason Campbell be around for 2010?

30. Detroit Lions (2-14) : Everyone expected a long road ahead for the Lions and two separate six-game losing streaks locked up the No. 2 pick in the draft. Building blocks like QB Matt Stafford and WR Calvin Johnson on offense are bright spots for 2010.

31. Seattle Seahawks (5-11) : There’s nothing worse than watching a team quit like the Seahawks did this season. They didn’t make it too tough for the Titans’ Chris Johnson to break the NFL yards-from-scrimmage record but they have made it tough for their fans to have faith in the direction of the team. What can Jim Mora, Jr. say to defend himself, that “we played like diddley-poo?”?

32. St. Louis Rams (1-15) : CG said about his beloved Rams: “With so many holes and so few current players showing much, it is hard not to see this as a three-plus year project back to respectability.” It may not be the sexiest No. 1 overall pick ever but everyone’s guess is that it will be Nebraska DT Ndamukong Suh since he will be a stable building block in Steve Spagnuolo’s defense for years to come. With that, the Rams are officially on the clock…

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Mike Blewitt’s NFL Power Rankings: Week 12

Injuries and upsets were big stories over the weekend and the worst game of the year was actually the best. The Colts and Saints moved to 10-0, making it only the third time in league history with two undefeated teams at this stage, the AFC West threw down with the AFC North and won(!), and the Browns found yet another way to lose. Let’s make our way all the way from No. 1 to No. 32…

1.      New Orleans Saints (10-0)— Efficient and dominant in each phase of the game, the Saints were in control throughout it. By creating four turnovers and leading a perfectly balanced offensive attack, New Orleans put their stamp on this game. They are 10-0 for the first time in franchise history and will look to continue their unblemished run in a huge contest on Monday night, when they host the Patriots.

2.      Indianapolis Colts (10-0) —Certainly not their prettiest win of the year, but as we like to say, “good teams win ugly.” The Ravens forced three turnovers and held the Colts to just 17 points, but Indy shut the door late with two late turnovers of their own to run their record to 10-0. Next up is a scrappy Houston Texans team who is looking to put a signature win up on the board.

3.      Minnesota Vikings (9-1)— It doesn’t often go much easier than this in an NFL contest. QB Brett Favre was able to check out in the start of the fourth quarter, holding a 28-3 lead after completing 88 percent of his passes and four TDs against Seattle. The reeling Bears visit Minnesota on Sunday.

4.      New England Patriots (7-3)— The Pats certainly dished out a measure of revenge, embarrassing the Jets by holding the ball for 40 minutes and creating five turnovers. WR Wes Welker ran free most of the day, racking up 15 catches for 192 yards and exposing a less-than-stellar game plan. The Pats play another “Game of the Year” when they travel to New Orleans to take on the undefeated Saints.

5.      San Diego Chargers (7-3)— Right back where they belong, the Chargers withstood some early season trials and tribulations and find themselves in first place in the AFC West and playing commanding football. San Diego ran over the Broncos on Sunday, picking up 203 yards on the ground in a 32-3 shellacking. They now have their eyes focused on a No. 2 seed in the AFC playoffs and will host the Chiefs this Sunday.

6.      Cincinnati Bengals (7-3)— This will be permanently filed under “One that we let get away.” The Bengals of old would have even been shaking their heads after Cincy gave up 10 points to the Raiders in the last 41 seconds of the fourth quarter. A big special teams gaffe gave the Raiders the ball in field goal range, one play after the game-tying TD, which resulted in a 20-17 loss. They forfeited a huge chance to go up two games on Pittsburgh, but will attempt to bounce back against the cellar-dwelling Browns this Sunday.

7.      Arizona Cardinals (7-3)— The Cardinals have inched their way up the power rankings in recent weeks and find themselves in complete control of the AFC West yet again. Kurt Warner’s injury is not deemed to be serious and he staked them to a commanding 21-3 lead before being forced out of the game against the Rams. The Cards take on the red-hot Titans in an effort to stay within a reasonable distance of the Vikings or Saints for the No. 2 spot in the NFC.

8.      Dallas Cowboys (7-3)— This one was very ugly, so Big D should be thankful this holiday for the win on Sunday. They scored their points (a Romo-to-Crayton-TD) with less than three minutes to play and hung on to beat the Redskins 7-6. The Thanksgiving tradition continues when they host the Raiders on Thursday.

9.      New York Giants (6-4)— As head coach Tom Coughlin succinctly put it, “it was miserable around here for a month,” and that ended with an overtime victory over the Falcons. Eli Manning threw for a season-high 384 yards along with three TDs to pace the offense to 34 points. They go to Denver on turkey night to try to make it two wins in a row.

10.  Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4)— Despite picking up over 500 yards of offense, three costly turnovers, ANOTHER kickoff return for a TD, and eight penalties doomed the Steelers in the OT loss to Kansas City. With S Troy Polamalu out for several more weeks and Ben Roethlisberger banged up after this loss, the defending champs are in a danger zone. This week’s showdown against the Ravens should result in the losing team being out of the playoffs at year’s end.

11.  Philadelphia Eagles (6-4)— Was that balance we saw on Sunday night?  Yes it was. Philly came out running the ball and throwing, which led to nearly 400 yards of offense, despite three turnovers. They sealed the win with a LeSean McCoy TD with five minutes to go and now will need to keep pace with a jumbled wild card group in the NFC. Next up: Redskins in Philly.

12.  Denver Broncos (6-4)— After opening the season at 6-0, the Broncos are in serious danger of missing the playoffs. They managed exactly three points in four trips to the red zone and held the ball for less than 23 minutes.  Their 25th-ranked offense will need to get back on track for a huge Thanksgiving night game in Denver.

13.  Atlanta Falcons (5-5)— The Falcons battled the Giants into overtime in a game during which they trailed throughout, ultimately falling 34-31. They will need to find a way to get stops on defense if they are going to have a chance at a playoff run in 2009. The back end of their schedule is loaded with home games, so they can get started with a win over Tampa Bay this week.

14.  Green Bay Packers (6-4)— The Pack completely dominated the 49ers, despite only winning by six points. They held the ball for over 41 minutes, including the last six to run out the clock and racked up nearly 500 yards of offense. The Pack takes on the Lions on turkey day and are back in the thick of the NFC playoff race.

15.  Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) —The Jags came from behind to beat the Buffalo Bills by three and put themselves right into playoff contention. One of the hardest teams to figure out in the whole league, the Jags have a balanced offense and hard-hitting defense that creates problems for most of their opponents. A loooong road trip to San Fran is up this holiday weekend.

16.  Baltimore Ravens (5-5) —The Ravens failed to score a TD in four red-zone trips , settling for five field goals on the day as their only points. Two late turnovers cost them in a game that was there for the taking against the unbeaten Colts. They are in serious jeopardy of missing the AFC playoff race and have a clash against the rival Steelers this Sunday night.

17.  Miami Dolphins (5-5)— A big week from Ricky Williams with three TDs allowed the Dolphins to keep pace with the rest of the playoff pack in the AFC. His role will be significant down the stretch as QB Chad Henne continues to develop. They received a nice 10-day break before they head up to Buffalo to take on the last-place Bills.

18.  Tennessee Titans (4-6)— While the hill may be a little too steep for the Titans to climb all the way back into the playoff picture, they are playing as well as many teams on that level. RB Chris Johnson, who ran for 151 yards against Houston, is following up his excellent rookie campaign with a breakout season that may make him the NFL’s next big star. The four-game winning streak will be heavily tested against the Cardinals and Colts the next two weeks.

19.  Houston Texans (5-5)— Yet another loss in the books thanks to missing a field goal on the last play of the game…just inexcusable. From clock mismanagement to poor execution, the Texans show no signs of being able to get above the .500 mark for any length of time. Titans’ RB Chris Johnson tore them up and now they will need to set their sights on Colts QB Peyton Manning.

20.  San Francisco 49ers (4-6)— The only positive thing the Niners showed on Sunday was their ability to fight until the end of the game. Their defense was beaten up all day and their offense only had 18 minutes with which to move the ball. The playoff window is just about closed on San Fran in what has shaped out to be a disappointing 2009 campaign; they host the Jags this Sunday.

21.  Carolina Panthers (4-6)— Carolina has been fighting inconsistency all year and likely dropped out of the playoffs with that loss to Miami. The Dolphins dared QB Jake Delhomme to throw and he was unable to do so accurately or take advantage of red zone opportunities. They face the Jets this Sunday in a battle of two teams whose seasons have come off the rails earlier than anticipated.

22.  New York Jets (4-6)— The seemingly limitless prospects of rookie QBs are often perfectly counterbalanced with the reality of the developmental process. Mark Sanchez offered up five turnovers against the superior Pats team, which combined pressure and good coverage to confuse the youngster making just his tenth NFL start. The playoff window has shut on the Jets as they wait ‘til next year yet again. Next up: hosting Carolina on Sunday.

23.  Chicago Bears (4-6)— The Bears were unable to capitalize on three turnovers and ended the game with two punts, a blocked field goal, and an interception on offense. Unfortunately for the Bears, they appear to have personnel issues on both sides of the ball and will be retooling in the offseason after a third straight year of missing the playoffs. They travel to Minnesota this week in a must-win game for the Vikes…bad times…

24.  Kansas City Chiefs (3-7)— A look at the box score will not tell you the story of the Chiefs’ huge upset over Pittsburgh in Week 11. Key turnovers and a few clutch plays in overtime allowed them to snap their 10-game home losing streak, their longest ever. Head coach Todd Haley has them playing inspired football and we’ll see if they can make it three straight against the Chargers this week.

25.  Oakland Raiders (3-7)— Kudos to the Raiders for causing and then taking advantage of the Bengals mistakes in a shocking 20-17 win over Cincinnati. The league’s worst offense managed 10 points in the final 41 seconds of the upset and look better-suited having Bruce Gradkowski under center to run the show. Heading to Dallas on turkey day could be interesting, as neither offense has lit the world on fire over the last month.

26.  Washington Redskins (3-7)— The Redskins battled for the entire contest, keeping Dallas QB Tony Romo off-balance and holding them to only seven points. But they were plagued with their own inability to do anything in the red zone in losing their fifth game out of their last six. The ‘Skins go on the road to Philly to try to play spoiler for the remainder of the season.

27.  Buffalo Bills (3-7)— The Bills went 3-of-11 on third down, coughed up three turnovers, and came away with three field goals in three tips to the red zone—tough way to win a football game. They played more-inspired ball with interim head coach Perry Fewell and QB Ryan Fitzpatrick leading the way, but will need to be better to break the three-game skid against the Dolphins.

28.  Seattle Seahawks (3-7)— The wheels have come off the wagon in Seattle. Injuries and abysmal play have them out of the playoffs and wondering where the future may lead them in 2010. Only four rushing yards on 12 carries put them in a position to hold the ball for less than 18 minutes. They visit the Rams this week to try and heal some of their war wounds.

29.  Detroit Lions (2-8)— The Lions and Browns combined for over 900 yards in a very competitive contest that ended with Detroit victorious. Their defense has myriad issues, but Matt Stafford and the rest of the offense came back from being down 3-24 in the first quarter to take the game on the last play, 38-37. Lions host the Pack on turkey day in one of the oldest traditions in the NFL.

30.  St. Louis Rams (1-9)— The Rams went 4-of-16 on third down and failed to capitalize on another great performance by RB Steven Jackson. Their inability to stop the Cardinals’ offense put them in too big of a hole to finish off their second-half comeback. They will take on the Seahawks in an NFC West battle (read: pillow fight).

31.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-9)— Mama said there’d be days like this…a 38-7 drubbing at the hands of the Saints. Considering how badly he was harassed in this game, the Bucs should be thankful that QB Josh Freeman is not injured. They travel to the Falcons looking for improvement in all three phases.

32.  Cleveland Browns (1-9)— The Browns suffered a heart-breaker in finding a shockingly new way to lose an NFL game. A pass interference penalty on a “Hail Mary” pass was followed by an untimed down for a Detroit TD on the last play of the game; that really was a tough way to go out in Week 11. Bengals, Chargers, Steelers is a tough stretch for Cleveland as we head into December.

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NFL Power Rankings: Week 10

***My apologies for the lateness on this article, simply forgot to post it earlier this week***

The slate is officially clean on win-less teams thank to Tampa Bay’s upset of the Packers, which means maybe the creamsicle orange jerseys are a blessing and not the curse they were once thought to be. The Saints and Colts both dodged bullets to stay perfect, the Bengals continue to impress us, the Giants have us scratching our heads, and the Patriots are right near the top again which altogether make the NFL gloriously unpredictable. Let’s make our way from No. 1 all the way down to No. 32…

 

1. New Orleans Saints (8-0)— It was not a signature performance for the Saints as they toughed out a win against Carolina at home, scoring 24 second-half points. Drew Brees was his usual self after a sluggish first half, but the defense will need to address getting gashed for 182 rushing yards before they visit Steven Jackson and the Rams this week.

2. Indianapolis Colts (8-0) —The Colts were the beneficiaries of a missed field goal and a coaching blunder that allowed them to hang on for a three-point victory over the Houston Texans. QB Peyton Manning threw 40 passes in the first half (!!!) but ultimately raised the Colts’ record to 14-1 versus their AFC South ‘rival’. Now it’s on to an actual real rival in the New England Patriots this Sunday night.

3. Minnesota Vikings (7-1)— The Vikings’ only loss was a tight one at Pittsburgh that left us more impressed than we were when they were undefeated. The 7-1 start is no fluke, as Minnesota has been putting up points (2^nd in the NFL) and stuffed the run on defense (ranked 6^th in the NFL) for much of the year. Hosting Detroit and coming off a bye is a nice way to start the second half.

4. New England Patriots (6-2)— The Dolphins put up a solid fight but the Patriots made big plays to ensure the victory and run their record to 6-2. All the worries from earlier in the season have begun to fade as the offense appears to be clicking again. The Pats are 71-17 in games played after Nov. 1 since 2001, not a good sign for the Colts this week and everyone else for the rest of the year.

5. Cincinnati Bengals (6-2)— The Bengals controlled the ball for 40 minutes exactly as RB Cedric Benson churned out 117 yards on 34 carries. Cincy is now 4-0 versus the AFC North, and will look to run their record to 5-0 when they take on the Steelers this week. They are certainly the surprise team of the first half of 2009.

6. Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2)— After a first half in which the Steelers could not get anything going offensively, they went no-huddle and shredded the Broncos for 173 yards on the ground, and three touchdowns by game’s end. Big Ben and Rashard Mendenhall shined on Monday night for the Steelers to get to 6-2 and will host a big AFC North match-up this Sunday.

7. Denver Broncos (6-2)— Following a field goal on their opening drive, every Broncos possession ended with an interception or a punt. Kyle Orton was forced into three picks and the Broncos’ previously vaunted D had no answers for the Steelers offense in the second half. Time to shake off two consecutive blowouts; the Redskins may be the cure for what ails them.

8. Dallas Cowboys (6-2)— The ‘Boys have ripped off four straight wins and find themselves atop the NFC East at the midway point of the season. Their offense’s ability to run out the last 4:27 of the game was an impressive exclamation point in their win at Philly, and should have them feeling good as they head to Lambeau this week.

9. Philadelphia Eagles (5-3)— The Eagles’ up-and-down season continues as they dropped a home game to Dallas, failing to hold a 4^th quarter lead with a series of miscues including some from the bench. Now Philly travels to San Diego to take on an energized Chargers team, who is surprisingly fighting for first in their division at the halfway mark.

10. Atlanta Falcons (5-3)— The Falcons sacked Campbell five times in the first half—a team record for sacks in a half. While they didn’t play their best game, they did manage to run the ball well and secure a victory over a reeling Redskins team. Next up is Carolina where they will try to continue to run their balanced offense and stay in control in the wild card race.

11. San Diego Chargers (5-3)— Sometimes one drive can turn around a whole season, and that may have happened in the Meadowlands this past week. QB Philip Rivers drove the Chargers to a go-ahead score with 21 seconds left on the clock for a dramatic comeback win against the Giants. That win, coupled with the Broncos loss, has them just one game out of the lead which seemed like it could be a runaway a few weeks ago. They get another chance to prove their worth this week when they host the Eagles.

12. Arizona Cardinals (5-3)— QB Kurt Warner shredded the Bears for five TDs in a game that was really never in doubt. At 5-3, they control the NFC West for now and could deliver an early knockout blow to the Seahawks this week.

13. New York Giants (5-4)— Four short weeks ago, the G-Men found themselves atop this hallowed list (shameless self-promotion) and now goes into a bye week out of playoff contention in Week 10. If one could point to one issue it would be easier to analyze their problems but, right now, several areas are failing them. They will fight back into the playoff picture this season, but injuries and age have made their once formidable defense look ordinary.

14. Baltimore Ravens (4-4) —The Ravens had not given up 100-yard rushing games to the same player in the same season since 1997 until Cedric Benson accomplished the feat this week. They also must have left the game a bit shell-shocked, having held the ball for only 20 minutes and scoring only seven points in garbage time. It’s regrouping time when they play the Browns on Monday night.

15. Houston Texans (5-4)— Gary Kubiak let time run out to the two-minute warning, and cost his team the ball (and crucial points), after a replay reversal. Kris Brown came up empty after coming up so big earlier in the game, which led to a tough loss at Indy. Frankly, turning the ball over three times will keep you out of the win column most times against anybody and almost always when it’s the Colts on the other side of the ball. The Texans will have a long two weeks to think about that loss, with the bye week preceding a Monday night match-up.

16. Green Bay Packers (4-4)— Three interceptions and six sacks allowed go a long way in explaining how the Pack blew a 4^th quarter lead and allowed 21 points in the final stanza. High hopes for Green Bay have faded fast for this season with the realizations that they cannot protect QB Aaron Rodgers, or come up with key stops on defense when they need them.

17. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-4) —The Jags’ went into ball control mode from the start of the game and held the ball for over 36 minutes. They held off a valiant comeback effort by the Chiefs, and at 4-4, are at least in position to challenge for the playoffs in the second half of the year. Next up: New York Jets.

18. Chicago Bears (4-4)— QB Jay Cutler’s super fantasy stats should fool no one. The offense is not clicking in the way that anyone anticipated, and the defense finds themselves in the lower third of the league in points allowed.  

19. San Francisco 49ers (3-5)— The Niners committed four turnovers which led to 24 points for the Titans. Getting run over for 152 yards is not something we would expect out of a Mike Singletary-coached squad.

20. Miami Dolphins (3-5)— There may not be a team fighting harder to get to .500 than the Dolphins. They are giving it all for Tony Sparano, but they just couldn’t get the key stops versus the Pats. They host Tampa coming off their first win and the Fish are unlikely to let them make it two in a row…

21. New York Jets (4-4)— The Jets’ embodied the trials and tribulations of a .500 team as they saw great highs (upsetting hated rival New England) and terrible lows (swept by hated rival Miami) through eight games. One can be sure that head coach Rex Ryan worked tirelessly during the bye week to get the team back on track for this week’s contest against Jacksonville.

22. Buffalo Bills (3-5)— Despite some significant injuries and, at times abysmal play, the Bills can potentially build on their first half. That building process better ramp up quickly as most players and coaches should consider themselves on the hot seat for the duration of the season. Out of their bye week, they go to Tennessee where they hope there is no Music City Miracle in sight.

23. Carolina Panthers (3-5)— The Panthers hung tough with the league’s top team at New Orleans, but three lost fumbles were too much to overcome. Their ability to run the ball so effectively is a sign that they may be one of the struggling teams that rights the ship in the second half of 2009. Hosting Atlanta this week will be a big test.

24. Seattle Seahawks (3-5)— Seattle capitalized on five INTs, turning them into 20 points as they battled back from a 17-point deficit. They travel to Arizona this week in a game that could have their season on the line.

25. Washington Redskins (2-6)— Looking at the box score would not tell the Redskins’ whole story since they matched up well with the Falcons’ stats. Their inability to protect QB Jason Campbell (5 sacks) and to get the ball in the end zone (they have yet to score over 17 points) have everyone, especially Jim Zorn, wishing the second half of the season simply is over quickly.

26. Oakland Raiders (2-6)— When your team can’t score points (30^th in the NFL) and can’t stop other teams from scoring (25^th in the NFL), it doesn’t need to be said that you’re in possession of a failure recipe. It starts at the top where exceedingly eccentric owner Al David hired a head coach, Tom Cable, who appears to be one of the inmates running the asylum. The Raiders may have more talent on defense than other teams, but there are just too many holes organization-wide for them to be able to overcome the obstacles. This will get worse before it gets better.

27. Tennessee Titans (2-6)— After committing 18 turnovers in their first six games, the Titans have none in their last two (both wins). RB Chris Johnson leads the NFL with 959 rushing yards and with play like this will lead the Titans to a few more wins before the season is over. QB Vince Young is playing his role well and will try to make it three in a row against Buffalo.

28. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-7)— The Bucs make a nice-sized leap out of the basement based on the level of competition that they beat relative to their peers in or near the basement. It may have taken a wild finish to ice the game but came up with six sacks and three INTs to put their newbie QB Josh Freeman (3 TDs) in a position to win. The creamsicle-colored jerseys appropriately had years and years of losing associated with them until Sunday. Maybe they can make it two in a row against Miami…

29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-7)— With the Larry Johnson scandal hanging over their heads, the Chiefs once again fought hard and came up short to the Jaguars. LJ is no longer with the team and head coach Todd Haley will need to figure a way for his 27^th ranked offense to get it going along with his 27^th ranked defense…it’s a marathon, not a sprint, right???

30. St. Louis Rams (1-7)— The NFL schedule-makers probably even feel guilty about setting the one-win Rams up with the Saints at this stage of the season. I suppose if there IS a week for St. Louis to play them, it might as well be with an extra week to prepare as they come off their bye week.

31. Detroit Lions (1-7)— “In youth we learn; in age we understand.” Matt Stafford threw five INTs and the Lions blew a 17-point first half lead against the Seahawks. These are tough lessons to learn for the young Detroit team and playing the Vikings in Minny coming off a bye may be another one of those lessons…

32. Cleveland Browns (1-7)— The Browns were given a much-needed bye week to collect themselves after a miserable first half of the season that ended with the firing of their GM George Kokinis. Now, head coach Eric Mangini will have to decide whether Brady Quinn or Derek Anderson will be the QB to make the second half of the season a little more productive and save his job in the process.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Mike Blewitt’s NFL Power Rankings: Week 7

One would think that you could not ask for a better game than matching up the top two teams in the power rankings. Only, a blowout left us…unfulfilled.

Tom Brady had Patriots fans thinking of the glorious days of yesteryear (it was 2007, relax), Favre-mania is running wild in Minny, and the QB passing numbers across the entire league had fantasy geeks awkwardly high-fiving each other on Monday morning at the water cooler.

Here we go from the NEW No. 1 New Orleans Saints all the way to ol’ reliable Rams at No. 32…

1.      New Orleans Saints (5-0) —The marquee matchup was ALL New Orleans as Drew Brees & Co. played nearly flawless offensive football and torched the Giants for 48 points. The Saints topped the 40-point mark for the third time this season and did it this time against the league’s previously top-ranked defense. They have officially earned this No. 1 ranking on the field.

2.      Indianapolis Colts (5-0) —The Colts bring their well-rested and increasingly healthy team to St. Louis after the bye week, which almost seems unfair.

3.      Minnesota Vikings (6-0) —Another fantastic finish in Minnesota as the Vikings and Ravens combined for 34 fourth-quarter points. While the Vikes defense does not seem as dominant as they were a year ago, the Adrian Peterson-Brett Favre combo is providing a well-balanced punch that can put away any team in the league. Next up: They go to Pittsburgh for another stern test of their undefeated record.

4.      Denver Broncos (6-0) —The Broncos defense came up with five sacks and held San Diego to just 2-of-11 on third downs; they continue to impress the entire NFL-watching nation. Oh, by the way, Eddie Royal returned a kickoff and a punt for a touchdown, only the 11th player to do so in league history.

5.      New York Giants (5-1) —When it rains, it pours. The Giants No. 1 pass defense looked anything but that on Sunday against the Saints as they allowed four touchdowns and 369 yards through the air. This is still a team that will be fighting for home-field advantage at season’s end, but they lost some leverage after this past week’s performance against New Orleans.

6.      New England Patriots (4-2) —A little film study and an 0-5 opponent can go a long way to boosting a team’s confidence. Skewering that team for team records of 59 points, 651 yards, and five passing TDs in one quarter is like a Tony Robbins infomercial boost…in the snow.

7.      Atlanta Falcons (4-1) —While Matt Ryan and the rest of the offense took advantage of their scoring opportunities, the real story for Atlanta was their defense, which created two Chicago turnovers in the red zone. The Falcons travel to Dallas needing every win they can get to keep pace with divisional rival and top-ranked New Orleans.

8.      Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) —Their inability to run the ball effectively led to their second loss of the year as Houston also tore their defense apart all day. The loss of DE Antwan Odom is a big one for the Bengals, who will need to rally quickly as they take on a desperate Bears team this Sunday.

9.      Pittsburgh Steelers (4-2) —Ben Roethlisberger led the Steelers to over 500 yards of offense as they beat the Browns for the 12th consecutive time. Three lost fumbles prevented a blowout and showed signs that Pittsburgh is still having trouble putting teams away, but Troy Polamalu’s return from injury will be a big key for their success moving forward in 2009.

10.  Philadelphia Eagles (3-2) —The Eagles were able to pick up 4.8 yards per carry on the ground, yet called only 14 rushing plays on the afternoon in Oakland. The one-dimensional offense provided the Raiders the opportunities for six sacks and led to QB Donovan McNabb having an inaccurate day under center (22-for-46). I would guess the Redskins are in for a heavy dose of an Eagles bounce-back win on Monday night.

11.  Baltimore Ravens (3-3) —Heartbreak city again for the Ravens as kicker Steven Hauschka missed a 44-yard field goal with no time left. This was their third consecutive last minute loss, so they will use this bye week to get past the frustration and figure out how to slow down opposing offenses; they rank 22nd in the league in pass defense.

12.  Arizona Cardinals (3-2) —Kurt Warner had a very efficient day as he passed the 30,000-yard mark for his career and put Arizona back on track as they head to New York to take on the Giants. The Cardinals pass defense, which ranked dead last before Sunday, held Seattle to just 112 yards through the air and 128 total—great sign for them moving forward this season.

13.  San Francisco 49ers (3-2) —The Niners probably spent most of their bye week erasing the 45-10 shellacking from Atlanta out of their memories. They get RB Frank Gore back and will head to Houston to try to slow down their offensive attack.

14.  Green Bay Packers (3-2) —It may be difficult to find negatives in a 26-0 win, but I am up for the challenge. The Packers have allowed a league-high 25 sacks and committed 13 penalties for 130 yards against the Lions. They were a favorite amongst many to be the dark horse this season, but look every bit the also-ran at this stage of the season.

15.  Chicago Bears (3-2) —The Bears may be shaking their heads over this one for awhile, losing by seven points after coming up empty in the red zone three times. They will need to regroup quickly as the Bengals are up next. The 27th-ranked rushing attack needs a boost as well…

16.  Dallas Cowboys (3-2) —The Cowboys have managed to make every game seem tough, but their opponent coming off the bye week, the Atlanta Falcons, will likely prove to be more than just a worthy adversary this week.

17.  New York Jets (3-3) —For all the people who bought tickets to the Mark Sanchez bandwagon, they are non-refundable…five interceptions by the rookie killed a 300-yard rushing performance by Thomas Jones and Leon Washington. This was an inexcusable loss for the Jets, who have now dropped three straight and look every bit a .500 team.

18.  Houston Texans (3-3) —The Texans are arguably the hardest team in the league to figure out, but their offense seems to be very straightforward right now. Matt Schaub threw for nearly 400 yards and four TDs in a key victory over the Bengals. They stuffed the run and dominated the clock with over 36 minutes of possession, providing them with great momentum as they take on the Niners this Sunday.

19.  San Diego Chargers (2-3) —After this week’s loss to the undefeated Broncos, the division crown already looks lost, but there are plenty of games left and an immediate turnaround is necessary. The transformation needs to begin on defense, where they are near the bottom of the league in points allowed.

20.  Seattle Seahawks (2-3) —Seattle’s offense looked inept just a week after posting 34 points on offense. They held the ball for only 17 minutes and roll into their bye week a very up-and-down team.

21.  Miami Dolphins (2-3) —After the way the Saints looked on Sunday, the Dolphins should be happy to have had two weeks to prepare for them. They may need every last minute.

22.  Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3) —The squeaky wheel got the grease as Maurice Jones-Drew rushed for 133 yards and three TDs against the lowly Rams. MJD said last week that he was upset with his “decoy” role, yet manned up and helped earn a victory for the Jags despite three crucial turnovers that forced this contest to overtime.

23.  Carolina Panthers (2-3) —The Panthers got back to their strong suit by rushing for 267 yards in a victory over Tampa Bay. Despite continually shaky play by QB Jake Delhomme, their ability to pound opponents on the ground will win them some games going forward and this is not a team that should be counted out yet.

24.  Washington Redskins (2-4) —The ‘Skins have yet to play a team that has a win entering the game in which they face off. Head coach Jim Zorn’s days are clearly numbered as he was relieved of his play-calling duties by the team’s management and QB Jason Campbell was benched. Maybe Sherm Lewis can get things on the right track…I’m not buying that either, but I had to try.

25.  Buffalo Bills (2-4) —It doesn’t matter how you win, just if you win. Trent Edwards was added to the long list of injured Bills players and K Rian Lindell made up for his miss in regulation by nailing a 47-yarder in OT to win it. The Bills will have a long road to climb in the AFC East, but they can get some momentum going by taking out Carolina this Sunday.

26.   Oakland Raiders (2-4) —The Raiders played their most complete game of the season and earned a shocking win over the Eagles. Oakland controlled to clock and put Philly in a position to throw the ball downfield, amazing considering they ranked 30th against the run going into the game. They host the Jets this weekend in what should be a very ugly contest.

27.  Kansas City Chiefs (1-5) —This one was not pretty, but the Chiefs toughed it out by controlling the ball for over 37 minutes. They have been embroiled in close battles all season and will be in for a brawl this Sunday versus the Chargers.

28.  Detroit Lions (1-5) —It’s a good thing the Lions grabbed that win when they had the chance a few weeks ago because they have been awful since. They managed only 149 yards of offense total and have run their winless streak in Green Bay to 19 games.

29.  Cleveland Browns (1-5) —Less than 200 yards of offense and four turnovers led to a 12th consecutive loss to the Steelers. They rank 31st in the NFL in total offense and will probably not climb much further than that if this QB play continues.

30.  Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-6) —The Bucs are off to their first 0-6 start since 1985 and are in the midst of a 10-game losing streak. Five fumbles, four sacks allowed, and two turnovers really do not point to any signs of improvement on offense. This week, they get to take their show on the road to London, where the Pats will likely put on an offensive clinic for our international fans.

31.  Tennessee Titans (0-6) —The wheels fell off the wagon a few weeks back, but who would have thought it would come to this? The 59-0 shutout at the hands of the Pats was the largest point margin in an NFL contest since 1976 and shockingly has the league’s longest tenured head coach, Jeff Fisher, on the hot seat.

32.  St. Louis Rams (0-5) —It will be no consolation to Rams Nation (is there one?) that their 16th straight defeat was a hard-fought one that went into overtime. Yielding 500 yards of offense and scoring only one offensive touchdown is simply nowhere near getting it done on the field. Lastly, playing the Colts coming off a bye week is about as bad a way to try to build momentum as there could be in the NFL…good luck, Rams.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Mike Blewitt’s NFL Power Rankings: Week Five

A clash of the titans in New England and Favre-fueled media frenzy in Minnesota highlighted the NFL action over the weekend.

New Orleans delivered a football lesson to the Jets’ rookie QB, the Broncos continue to convert believers, and the Bengals (yes, the Bengals!) have some serious momentum as we head into week five. Let’s count them down from No. 1 to No. 32.

 

1. New York Giants (4-0)

There is a case to be made that the Giants early-season schedule has been too easy for them to remain in the top spot. But, the way they are easily dispatching of their opponents is reason enough to keep them here.

Plus, they hold a top five ranking in both offense and defense.

 

2. New Orleans Saints (4-0)

The Saints possess the league’s No. 1-ranked offense and also lead the NFL in turnover ratio, meaning they have finally figured out a way to play some solid defense. Now, they head into their bye week at a perfect 4-0.

 

3. Indianapolis Colts (4-0)

Peyton Manning is making things look very easy for the Colts right now as he heads up the league’s most prolific passing offense.

They will need to balance things out with the running game and tighten up on defense. But with the combined 0-8 Rams and Titans sandwiched around their bye week, 6-0 is a very realistic possibility.

 

4. Minnesota Vikings (4-0)

Brett Favre is looking increasingly comfortable in Vikings’ purple as he beat his old squad, becoming the first ever QB to defeat all 32 NFL teams. With that lethal pass rush delivering eight sacks against Green Bay, the Vikes look every bit of a contender in 2009.

 

5. Denver Broncos (4-0)

One can analyze the schedule all one wants but the Broncos have allowed only 26 points in four games—that’s a surefire recipe for success.

The next stretch of games against New England, San Diego, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh will give us an even better idea of how strong this team is.

 

6. New England Patriots (3-1)

This may not be the most impressive 3-1 start ever, but it is a good start nonetheless. Considering how banged up the Pats are on defense and that Brady is still trying to get his rhythm back with Moss, Welker, and Co. this first quarter of the season is a success.

 

7. Baltimore Ravens (3-1)

The Ravens might be kicking themselves over the loss to New England that was low-lighted by a couple of controversial penalties and a terrible dropped pass at the end of the game. But, they need to have short memories as they will be playing Cincinnati this Sunday for control of the division.

 

8. San Francisco 49ers (3-1)

The Niners shook off the last-second loss in Minnesota and promptly went out to destroy the Rams. This weekend’s clash against the Falcons will provide another measuring stick for how far they have come over the last 12 months.

 

9. New York Jets (3-1)

By all accounts, this has been a good first month for rookie QB Mark Sanchez and the revitalized Jets defense. But, the aforementioned signal-caller will need to secure the football if they are to have any chance of earning a spot in the playoffs.

 

10. Philadelphia Eagles (2-1)

A well-placed bye week and a lighter slate against Tampa Bay, Oakland, and Washington may help them get back to full strength without having to sacrifice anything in the win column.

11. Atlanta Falcons (2-1)

The Falcons have had a week to think about the loss at New England, but now they need to focus on another tough opponent as they travel to San Francisco to take on a stingy Niners defense.

 

12. Cincinnati Bengals (3-1)

I will refrain from saying they are one miracle tipped-pass away from being 4-0…each Bengals contest has had its own last-second drama. But they are finding a way to win. They take on the Ravens to try to get to 3-0 in the division and assume the driver’s seat, which is an amazing turnaround.

 

13. Chicago Bears (3-1)

It seems that all the Favre drama has created a vacuum of media coverage regarding the NFC North. The Bears offense led by Jay Cutler is looking more and more comfortable by the week as they fly under the radar at 3-1.

 

14. Pittsburgh Steelers (2-2)

The Steelers ranking should be quickly on the rise the next couple of weeks as they see Detroit and Cleveland. But, they have to learn to stop opposing offenses in the fourth quarter and not wait for Polamalu to come back from injury to do so.

 

15. Green Bay Packers (2-2)

Not many people thought that Green Bay was going into Minny to spoil their Monday Night Favre party. Their defense getting shredded by Brett was a more disturbing result.

 

16. Dallas Cowboys (2-2)

There was already a growing sentiment questioning Romo’s ability to lead this team to the promised land, but allowing him to get pounded by Denver is no way to get him out of his slump.

Perhaps this week’s matchup with the Chiefs will provide a soft landing for the Cowboys.

 

17. San Diego Chargers (2-2)

Don’t let the fourth quarter near-comeback and final score fool you. This team looked out of sync and overmatched versus the Steelers on Sunday night.

The next three weeks against divisional opponents provide San Diego every opportunity to seize control of their destiny in 2009.

 

18. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-2)

A press-conference tongue-lashing by head coach Jack Del Rio two weeks ago appears to have worked. The Jags officially have me confused as to what their identity is this season.

 

19. Arizona Cardinals (1-2)

Hopefully, the bye week provided some respite for a team who needs to turn it around this week to get back on the right track towards the playoffs.

 

20. Washington Redskins (2-2)

There are not too many teams out there that are harder to watch than the Redskins. They’ve played three of the worst teams in the league in Tampa, Detroit, and St. Louis and, unfortunately, they’ve looked like they belong among that group.

21. Houston Texans (2-2)

 

22. Seattle Seahawks (1-3)

At some point, injuries cannot be an excuse. The Seahawks lone win was against the basement-dwelling Rams in Week One, and they have looked like a bad team since.

 

23. Miami Dolphins (1-3)

Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams ran wild in Chad Henne’s first start (and win) against the Bills. Expect to see a lot more of that game plan over the brutal next month of opponents (NE, NO, and NYJ twice).

 

24. Tennessee Titans (0-4)

Perhaps they should be lower on this list but this ranking isn’t exactly a vote of confidence, either. It’s panic time in Nashville.

 

25. Buffalo Bills (1-3)

There appears to be just as many people jumping off the Trent Edwards bandwagon as there was jumping on it in preseason. Playing the Browns at home should help turn things around this week.

 

26. Detroit Lions (1-3)

The Dolphins turnaround last year was the exception, not the rule. This is about progress not a massive turnaround in one year, so don’t expect them to upset the Steelers this Sunday.

 

27. Oakland Raiders (1-3)

Head coach Tom Cable is under criminal investigation for assaulting one of his assistant coaches in the preseason. On the field? JaMarcus Russell completes less than 40 percent of his passes so it will probably get a bit uglier.

 

28. Carolina Panthers (0-3)

The offense needs to stop putting the defense in terrible positions in Carolina by turning the ball over. I don’t think they are actually this bad.

 

29. Kansas City Chiefs (0-4)

Playing the Ravens, Eagles, and Giants in the first month is not a way any team would want to start out, but there is very little sign of improvement in KC. They are near the bottom of the league in almost every major statistical category on both offense and defense.

 

30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-4)

New QB, same old lack of offense. Their schedule does not line up very nicely for them the rest of the way so buckle your seat belts in Tampa, this ride could get bumpy.

 

31. Cleveland Browns (0-4)

Derek Anderson has breathed some life into the lifeless Browns offense and will start under center for now. Their porous defense, however, will keep them from winning most games this season.

 

32. St. Louis Rams (0-4)

The Rams were shut out again leaving their season points scored total at 24 through four games. Scoring six points per game will not win you many, if any, games in the NFL.

Read more NFL news on BleacherReport.com

Depth Perceptions: Tampa Bay Buccaneers Quarterbacks

What a difference a game makes, huh? 

If only the 2008 Tampa Bay Bucs had won one game in the month of December, they would have finished 10-6, made the NFL playoffs again, and likely would not have cleaned house this offseason.

However, that four-loss December collapse spelled doom for many people connected to it.

The most notable change came when the team fired head coach Jon Gruden, who gave way to little known defensive assistant Raheem Morris this offseason. At only 33 years of age, Morris will have his hands full, as he attempts to improve a team that has exactly zero playoff wins since their Super Bowl XXXVII victory and has jettisoned some veterans heading into his rookie season at the helm.

At the top of Morris’ to do list is finding a starting quarterback, and the battle has received a ton of hype all throughout the offseason. Veterans Byron Leftwich and Luke McCown have battled it out all during OTAs and summer camp. When first-round draft pick Josh Freeman and long-term project Josh Johnson are added to the mix, some might see the Bucs’ QB situation as an embarrassment of riches.

Unfortunately, when you have four quarterbacks that can play that often means you have no one you can count on. Let’s take a closer look…

 

Byron Leftwich—Leftwich is the guy with far and away the most experience and the most proven ability. He stepped into the NFL six years ago and played almost immediately, with his size, overall athletic ability, and toughness being his strong suits.

Unfortunately, the devastating knee injury he suffered in 2005 allowed backup David Garrard to move past him the following season as the starting QB in Jacksonville. Since then, he has been trying to find his place, but filled in ably as Ben Roethlisberger’s backup in Pittsburgh last season.

The question is whether or not a team which is in at least a form of rebuilding mode should be tied to a QB with a major injury history and a career 58.6 percent completion rate (and less than 50 percent this preseason).

 

Luke McCown—One thing so many of us as fans love about the NFL is how hard some players have to work to earn their keep. When you’re a player in that scenario, then there is no rest for the wear, and the strong armed Luke McCown is one of those players.

Having spent parts of various seasons with Tampa, New Orleans, and Cleveland; he has seen action in only 12 games over six NFL campaigns. McCown now has some experience to work with, even if it is not Sunday experience. His performance in last Saturday’s preseason matchup against the Jaguars with his job on the line was excellent. Anytime a QB can step in with pressure on him to play well and go 6-for-9 with two TD passes, it is the best of signs.

 

Josh Freeman —The already proclaimed and acknowledged Buccaneers quarterback of the future is Josh Freeman. He was picked 17th overall in this year’s draft, which was considered a reach by some; but no one denies his athleticism is something that is at a premium in today’s NFL.

The 6’6” Freeman is raw on his recognition skills, which could make for a bumpy road with any rookie QB. Plus now he may have the added pressure of absurd comparisons to Matt Ryan and Joe Flacco from 2008. There is a ton of varying speculation on Freeman, but make no mistake; he has a legitimate chance to start for a considerable portion of this season.

 

Josh Johnson—The second year project out of San Diego was deemed a long term project with major upside when he was drafted in the fifth round in 2008. But, after the Bucs faltered and a new coaching regime came into place, Freeman was touted as the next franchise guy and it left Johnson in an unenviable position.

While Johnson may still have that untapped potential, it is unlikely he will see the field before Freeman. Injuries and abysmal play from those in front of him are the only two things that can get Johnson there.

 

SUMMARY

Adding to all of the speculation about who will start opening day for Tampa Bay is the rumor mill that suggests at least one of the aforementioned quarterbacks will be traded.

Head Coach Raheem Morris stated this week: “Everybody in this league, all 32 teams around this time, are calling other front offices,” Morris said.

“I can’t control who calls us. We can control who we call. Everybody is interested in everybody’s roster. Everybody is looking to nitpick off everybody’s roster. Everybody has talent, and you’re trying to accumulate the best talent for your football team.”

So we have several questions to ask in order to approach this battle which will be decided quickly after this Thursday’s preseason game versus Miami:

1. Does the coaching staff think that Josh Freeman will be ready to play this season, even if it’s not on opening day? I think the answer is yes.

2. If the trade rumors are correct, who will garner the most value that you can afford to part with for this season? Leftwich, without a doubt. He has proven himself to be able to lead a team and can add some real value to a struggling team or a team with no discernable backup.

3. If the Bucs are in rebuilding mode anyway, why not just put Freeman in and let him learn on the job? I am okay with this in theory, but they are not a cellar dweller just yet and if Freeman struggles from Week 1, then they will be out of the playoff race before they started.

My call would be to move Leftwich, as he has the most value and would put them in a situation where they have McCown (playing the best of the four) starting the season and Freeman (future franchise) as a backup.

The Bucs can talk up Josh Johnson in trade rumors all they want, but no one will offer much to get him. So he can stick around as third string and they can move him next offseason.

But, I think the Bucs are going to stick with Leftwich, whom they just signed to a decent sized contract, and try to move McCown for a later round draft pick. At the first sign of real distress for whoever starts this season, Freeman will be warming up on the sidelines instead of holding a clipboard.

With the way I expect their season to go, this will happen before their bye week (Week 8) at the latest.

Depth Perceptions is a weekly look at depth chart and positional battles all over the NFL.

This article was originally published on FantasyPros911.com.

 

Depth Perceptions: Pittsburgh Steelers’ Offensive Line

There is no ingenious way to express how well last season went for the Pittsburgh Steelers. When you win it all, it went just fine thank you very much. With a dominant defense and a capable offense, the Steelers find themselves on the top of the leader board for Super Bowl Championships yet again and remain virtually intact for another run at the title in 2009.

However, one unit that needed to be addressed on that title team was the oft-criticized offensive line.

The Steelers uncharacteristically had problems rushing the ball effectively (23rd in the league in rushing), particularly in goal-line situations, and saw QB Ben Roethlisberger take an inordinate number of sacks (49 in all at the position, fourth most in the league).

While they were able to overcome impact injuries on the line to a few players, it was still in need of some changes heading into this season.

The Steelers decided not to make a play for left tackle Marvel Smith, who was with the team for nine seasons and earned a Pro Bowl berth in 2004; he is now a San Francisco 49er.

Additionally, they did not make an offer to free agent guard Kendall Simmons; a 2002 first-round draft pick that missed 12 games due to injury during last season’s run. The Steelers did, however, retain several players on the O-Line that they feel will be an improved unit as they log more time together this season.

Let’s take a closer look at the expected lineup in 2009.

Max Starks—Starks filled in at left tackle for the injured Marvel Smith for the final 11 games of the regular season and into the playoffs. His progression throughout his six years in Pittsburgh has been good enough that the Steelers decided to re-sign him to a four-year deal totaling $26 million.

While Starks is not considered an elite left tackle, his massive size (6’8”, 345 lbs.) and experience all over the offensive line give the coaching staff confidence that he is the man who will protect Big Ben’s blind side.

Chris Kemoeatu—”Kemo” had bigger shoes to fill than anyone on the team in 2008 when he replaced the departed perennial All-Pro Alan Faneca in the lineup. He did so ably and earned himself a $20 million contract from the Steelers over the next five years.

While he will likely never reach the standard that Faneca set, he has shown the improvement in his first three seasons to become a staple at left guard alongside Starks.

Justin Hartwig—The most experienced player returning on the O-Line acquitted himself quite well in 2008, his first with the team. His intelligence and gritty play at center make him a perfect fit as this line continues to search for continuity.

Hartwig entered camp with a toe injury but all signs are that he should be ready for Week One versus the Titans. If that toe injury lingers, that could be a significant blow to the cohesion up front.

Darnell Stapleton—Amazingly, Stapleton took over at right guard in his rookie season for the injured Kendall Simmons and started the last 12 games and each playoff contest in 2008.

It seems his best bet long-term is center due to a lack of imposing size, but his flexibility is a great asset for Pittsburgh to have in the years to come. Unfortunately, Stapleton underwent a knee scope recently and will be sidelined two to four weeks. He will likely be ready to go for Week 1 but his conditioning will take a hit as he recovers.

Willie Colon—Colon has started every game at right tackle for the past two years and will continue that streak in 2009. While he does not possess ideal size or skill for a tackle, his mean streak and aggressive play earn him respect amongst teammates and coaching staff, though the latter could do without the penalties that arise from such play.

Trai Essex—Essex is the versatile sixth man that teams love to have on their O-line. The Steelers are comfortable that Essex provides great depth from week-to-week and can fill in on the line if someone goes down during the season. For now, he is taking Stapleton’s spot as he is on the mend.

Tony Hills—Hills’ first season in the league in 2008 was primarily spent bulking up and learning NFL schemes. He is viewed as having a potentially big upside at tackle in the next couple of years, although he will just be providing depth to start off the 2009 season. Jason Capizzi and Ramon Foster will be fighting Hills for second-team snaps at tackle during camp.

Kraig Urbik—The Steelers’ second pick in this year’s draft, Urbik has excellent size for a guard and a nasty attitude to match. He will likely be counted on to contribute right away on some basis, especially if injuries pile up during the year.

A.Q. Shipley—A decorated center at Penn State, Shipley was taken in the seventh round of this year’s draft. He is likely as a long-term solution at center, though he could get pressed into action sooner if other injuries pile up at any point this year. Five-year veteran Alex Stepanovich and Doug Legursky will also be battling for that backup center spot.

While it is accurate that some of the blame for the absurdly high sack total in 2008 is Big Ben’s penchant for holding the ball and making plays, it is certainly not the entire reason. The O-line looked over-matched in certain games last year (Eagles, Giants) but came together enough down the stretch to help the team to a SB XLIII win.

The amount of time this unit has spent playing together already, which could continue for all of this season, is a huge positive. Also, each starter is under 30 with the exception of Hartwig and is established going into Week One of the 2009 season which bodes well for the future.

However, the Steelers’ offensive line does not yet have the look of an elite unit and with injuries mounting in the preseason, they may face some tough times again in 2009. I expect an improvement to their play overall this season but against some of the better defenses in the league, they will struggle.

The real question is if it will be just enough, again, to earn them a seventh Super Bowl title.

This article was originally published on FantasyPros911.com.

Depth Perceptions: New England Patriots’ Cornerbacks

Depth Perceptions is a weekly look at the depth chart and positional battles all over the NFL.

One common thread in the New England Patriots’ near decade-long run of success has been their ability to adapt to personnel changes.

The Pats have shown a remarkable capacity to utilize every player on the roster to help improve the team (see, QB Tom Brady filling in for the injured Drew Bledsoe and leading them to SB XXXVI title). Plus, they have displayed an uncanny dexterity to fill holes in desperate scenarios (see, WR Troy Brown pressed into defensive duty in 2004 due to myriad injuries in the backfield).

Each offseason, they retool and enter the regular season as one of the odds-on favorites to reach the Super Bowl—2009 should be no different.

Coming off a dominant 2007 campaign that ended in Super Bowl XLII heartbreak, the Patriots had high hopes for the 2008 season. However there were some glaring positional concerns entering last season, particularly at cornerback.

First team All-Pro CB Asante Samuel signed a six-year, $57 million with the Philadelphia Eagles and his ability to track down the ball was sorely missed. Samuel was replaced by capable veteran Deltha O’Neal to complement second-year starter Ellis Hobbs at corner, but the big play was alive and well against the Pats’ defense last season, resulting in the following stats:

• New England allowed 27 passing TDs on defense in 2008, the second-highest total in the NFL.
• New England allowed 12 pass plays of 40 yards or more, the second-highest total in the NF.

So, the Patriots shook things up again by dealing Hobbs on draft day to the aforementioned Eagles for draft picks. In addition, they brought in veteran cornerbacks Shawn Springs and Leigh Bodden via free agency and took UConn product Darius Butler early in the second round of the draft.

 

Let’s take a look at the state of the cornerbacks in New England for 2009.

 

 

Shawn Springs

 

The 13-year veteran will give this defensive backfield some much needed experience that left with the retirement of former Strong Safety Rodney Harrison.

 

Springs’ best days are certainly behind him, producing only one INT in 2008 along with a pedestrian 36 tackles. But, he will likely fill one of the starting corner roles if he is able to stay healthy, something he could not do two of the last three seasons.

 

 

Leigh Bodden

 

Bodden had developed into a solid corner for the Cleveland Browns, turning in his best season in 2007 (88 TKL, 6 INT) before being shipped off to “Football Siberia,” a.k.a. Detroit, in 2008. The defense in Detroit was historically bad so it’s fairly easy to write off Bodden’s drop in numbers.

 

The Patriots are hoping he returns to 2007 form and uses his six years in the league to complement Springs for a nicely-rebuilt starting duo at CB.

 

 

Terrence Wheatley

 

The second-round draft pick in 2008 out of Colorado saw very limited action in six games, logging just two tackles. Corner is one of the most difficult positions on the field for rookies to contribute immediately, so his struggles should be seen as part of the growing process.

 

New England has high hopes for him to have a much bigger impact this season and you can expect him to see a lot more action in 2009.

 

 

Darius Butler

 

Butler received first-round consideration and was coveted by many teams on draft day. New England snatched him with the 41st pick, getting a player with excellent ball skills who can contribute immediately as a returner on special teams—something he did very well at UConn.

Again, rookies will struggle at CB, but expect Butler to be used often this season, especially in nickel and dime packages, as the Patriots don’t have the luxury of great depth at this position.

 

Jonathan Wilhite

A fourth-round pick in the 2008 draft, the Auburn rookie played in every game in 2008, chipping in with 28 tackles and an interception.

The Patriots were pleased with his progress as he got up to speed quickly, even starting the last four games at corner opposite Hobbs.

By exceeding expectations in his rookie season, Wilhite will likely start the season on the “two-deep” at corner, but will battle Wheatley and Butler consistently for playing time in all defensive packages.

 

Mike Richardson

In his first year on New England’s roster, Richardson contributed 17 tackles during 10 games of limited action.

He will provide depth in specialty packages and may have to fight to keep himself on the roster as opposed to being placed on the practice squad once again. His special teams contributions could save him a spot on the roster in 2009.

 

While everyone connected to the Patriots was dejected after the loss of Samuel before the 2008 season, it was justified by knowing it would be too difficult to pay top dollar to keep him.

You won’t see too many people in the same mood over Hobbs’ departure.

Hobbs played tough through injuries over the last two seasons, but was regularly picked on by bigger wideouts (see Plaxico Burress’ SB XLII-winning catch) and his ceiling had been determined to be limited by the Patriots.

By bringing in two veterans with a combined 19 years of experience and drafting three corners in the last two years, New England acknowledged the need for an overhaul at the position.

With Brady back from injury, coach Bill Belichick is aware than the margin for error in winning the Super Bowl is razor-thin and they cannot afford a weakness at any position.

Bodden will pleasantly surprise fans and Butler will open eyes, at least in the return game.

If Springs stays healthy—a sizable if—the Patriots have upgraded both corner spots with three talented youngsters backing them up and supporting in special packages. That is as good an overhaul as can be done in just over a year’s time and the position now has a very good makeup for a team trying to return to the Super Bowl after a one-year hiatus.

This article originally appeared on FantasyPros911.

 

Depth Perceptions: San Francisco 49ers’ Quarterbacks

Depth Perceptions is a weekly look at the depth chart and positional battles all over the NFL.

 

The 2008 season was supposed to be one of promise for the San Francisco 49ers but quickly spiraled out of control, resulting in a midseason coaching change and personnel change to come with it.

 

Former coach Mike Nolan’s 2-5 start led to his dismissal and NFL legend Mike Singletary was charged with turning around a franchise whose quarterback of the present and/or future, Alex Smith, was on injured reserve for the year.

 

In his first game as head coach, Singletary put his stamp on the team by replacing starter J.T. O’Sullivan with journeyman Shaun Hill.

 

The real question entering 2009 is whether or not Hill can be the starter for the long-term. Alex Smith, after all, is the former No. 1 overall pick in the 2004 draft, a player who showed promise a few years ago.

 

Hill restructured his six-year, $49.5 million contract so it does not impact the team negatively and showed that he wanted to be a part of the 49er family going forward. Hill has earned the respect of his teammates but Singletary has declared the job an open competition when camp opens next week.

 

“I believe…at the right time, one of those guys will be the guy that will take us where we need to go,” Singletary said recently. “I feel very strongly that one of those guys is going to take us where we need to go. I have two quarterbacks I feel very confident about. I don’t have one great guy. I have two good guys, and somebody is going to step up.”

 

Let’s take a look at this important battle and the pros and cons of each player…

 

Shaun Hill

 

Prior to December 2007, very few fans even knew who Shaun Hill was, let alone did they have an idea of how well he would play in NFL action. Having spent time in the now-defunct NFL Europe, as well as four years as a backup with the Vikings, he had yet to even throw a pass until pressed into action due to injury and abhorrent play by his QB peers in San Francisco.

 

Even after posting a 2-0 record as a starter in 2007, the job was J.T. O’Sullivan’s in 2008 before Hill received another chance to take the snaps as the No. 1 man for the Niners.

 

Singletary’s move to Hill appeared to work as it energized a struggling squad and led them to a 5-3 record in the second half of the season.

 

While quarterback was only one of many issues to be solved in San Francisco, the Niners at least found someone on the roster that could potentially lead this team into the following season.

 

Hill’s statistics were also impressive: 62.8 completion percentage, 13 to 8 TD/INT ratio, 2046 yards in just over 8 games, and a 84 QB rating that placed him 12th in the league by season’s end.

 

While not known for overpowering arm strength, Hill has impressed with his overall athleticism and his ability to put the ball on the money for his receivers to catch in tight spaces. His size and experience are assets as he enters the season as the 49ers potential starter in 2009.

 

 

Alex Smith

 

Well, it’s safe to say the bloom is off the rose. No longer is Alex Smith the lone savior of the franchise. His big-time contract has been mostly paid out and ultimately restructured but here he remains in San Francisco, fighting for another chance at the starting job.

 

If nothing else, you have to admire that tenacity, his desire to lead the team that he was asked to lead over four years ago.

 

No one doubts Smith’s ability to read a playbook; he is by all accounts a quick learner. This will clearly help during all of the off-season workouts dealing with new offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye’s system. But he is coming off another major injury, one that sidelined him for all of 2008.

 

One can understand the hesitance of a Niners fan to trust the fate of the franchise to Smith again but if he earns it and outplays Hill, then so be it – Singletary will hand him the job. 

 

Smith’s size, ability to thread the needle, and cerebral approach are all coveted by NFL teams, but his penchant for over analyzing, taking sacks, and throwing interceptions are equally unattractive. It should also not be underestimated that the only 25-year old QB may be fighting for his career and trying to make believers of us all.

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Very often in the NFL, we see the media try to drum up interest by fabricating ‘legitimate’ positional battles, particularly at quarterback, when it’s essentially been decided before training camp starts.

 

This…is not one of those cases. This QB battle will be wide open because Singletary knows that it will help both players to raise their level of play and will create a competitive environment in training camp that he hopes will become contagious at every position.

 

Singletary knows changes have been made (hello, Michael Crabtree) that can lift his team to another level especially in a division where the title that has changed hands quite a few times this decade.

 

He was as intense a player as there ever was and you can see he is not in coaching to plod along and improve slowly—he is there to win now.

 

Unlike the Browns, the Niners’ QB battle could have a big impact on their team’s overall success and affect the playoff picture in the NFC. I think it is fair to say that Hill has the slight edge over Smith going into camp but I genuinely think this is as compelling battle going into next week as will see all summer.

 

This article orginally appeared on Fantasy Pros 911.

Depth Perceptions: Cleveland Browns’ Quarterbacks

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Depth Perceptions is a weekly look at the depth chart and positional battles all over the NFL.

The Cleveland Browns followed up a promising 2007 season by reverting back to the tougher times we saw throughout the decade, stumbling to a 4-12 record in 2008.

After missing the playoffs for the sixth consecutive season, including all four in their respective tenures, head coach Romeo Crennel and general manager Phil Savage were fired during the late December house cleaning.

New head honchos, high profile trades, and even higher profile court cases dotted the Browns’ landscape and will make for a very (hopefully) different 2009 season.

New GM George Kokinis comes from the Baltimore staff and head coach Eric Mangini gets his second opportunity to prove he can have success at the helm of an NFL team after being let go by the New York Jets. Both men got to work quickly as they dealt talented but injury-plagued tight end Kellen Winslow to Tampa Bay in February.

Mangini has been installing his philosophy since January and has had to deal with rumblings that some veteran players’ feathers (Shaun Rogers) were ruffled by the new regime.

Donte Stallworth’s tragic off-field incident and false trade rumors involving star WR Braylon Edwards added to a very difficult beginning for the new regime as they try to set the tone for better results this year.

Above and beyond all the other questions, the most important one remains:

 Who will be the starting quarterback for the Cleveland Browns this season, Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn?

Let’s find out…

Derek Anderson

Now that New England’s QB Tom Brady has made it en vogue for late round picks to become successful stars, several players have followed in his footsteps and Anderson is one of them.

A sixth-round pick by Baltimore out of Oregon State in 2005, Anderson did not see his first action until 2006 after earning a spot with the Browns and then won the starting job away from Charlie Frye during Week One of the 2007 season.

Anderson shocked everyone as he led the Browns to a 10-5 record in 15 starts and went on to throw for 3,787 yards and 29 TDs to earn himself a trip to the Pro Bowl.

Blessed with prototypical size at 6’6”, Anderson looks the part but could not replicate the performance last year that we saw two years ago.

Signing a three-year, $24 million contract extension should have put him at ease but poor play, myriad drops by Browns wideouts, and nagging injuries led to a lackluster season that resulted in a 50% completion rate and a 66.5 QB rating. Yikes.

Brady Quinn’s arrival seemed to light a fire under him in 2007, yet now it seems he may be affected by the process that left him wondering whether or not he would be a full-time starter—and that uncertainty continues throughout this offseason.

Brady Quinn

The Browns’ brass rejoiced in 2007 when they wheeled n’ dealed draft picks to trade back into the first round in order to take Brady Quinn with the No. 22 pick overall. They finally “had their franchise guy” again after the failure with Tim Couch several years earlier.

Little did they know that Derek Anderson was on the precipice of a great season that would create a quarterback controversy for the next couple of seasons…and possibly beyond.

Quinn also has ideal size at 6’4” with a very good arm and a great pedigree having excelled at Notre Dame under the tutelage of alleged offensive guru Charlie Weis. Quinn got his first chance to start last November and played very well in a close loss to Denver (23 for 35, 239 yds, 2 TDs).

Unfortunately for Quinn, his season would be cut short by a broken index finger that he suffered the following week versus Buffalo and ultimately played with for two games.

Quinn is also the recipient of a fairly large contract that could reach $30 million with incentive bonuses over the five-year term and his confidence is an asset that has been conspicuous throughout his career, stretching back to college.

SUMMARY

For a team that finished near the bottom of the league in almost every significant offensive category, the fortunes will not change on the arm of one man alone.

Near the top of the league in drops, struggling to get any ground game going in 2008 and now instituting a new system in 2009, it will be an uphill climb for either player to have a very productive season. Both are capable and both may very well see time this season as the Browns attempt to turn the page from the previous regime’s failure.

This job is absolutely up for grabs going into training camp later this month and this could be the most compelling positional battle we see all summer.  It seems that Mangini favors Quinn at this stage and will choose him in a dead heat in training camp.

I think Quinn wins the job and struggles to keep it at times during the year, unless of course Anderson gets traded.  Don’t count on it, even with Mangini favorite Brett Ratliff at third string they will wait another year to deal someone and make sure they have the right players in place.  It is the Browns after all, what’s the rush?

This article originally appeared on FantasyPros911.

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