Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: The Mike Tysons, 1-8

Posted Oct 25, 2006 1:48AM By mjd (RSS feed)

1.	Chicago	Rex Grossman spent the bye week on the set of ESPN's NFL Countdown, being felt up by Ron Jaworski, and being the most lucid, coherent, likable Chicago Bears luminary on the set (I'm looking at you, Ditka). Apparently, the only person who can rival Grossman's popularity in Chicago is Barack Obama, and just imagine how popular Grossman would be if he only turned the ball over five times last week.
2.	Indianapolis	I am aching to move them down, because there's something not right about this team. It's called "defense." Unfortunately, Denver has the same problem with something called "offense," Philadelphia lost, San Diego lost, and I'm not quite that confident in New Orleans yet.
3.	Philadelphia	I'm aware that they jumped three places after a loss, but I tend not to put much weight on losses that are sort of ... fluky. No disrespect to the Bucs intended (though I'm sure some will be taken), but how many times is Ronde Barber going to score twice, how many times is Donovan McNabb going to throw three interceptions, and how many times is Matt Bryant going to make a 62-yarder? I'll tell you what ... if there's another game this year when Ronde Barber scores twice and Matt Bryant hits a 62-yarder, I'll move the Bucs to the top spot for a week, I'll have their old effeminate Pirate logo tatooed on my left buttock, and I will go to a bar called "The Manhole" and proudly display it to everyone there.
4.	Denver	I'm not going to say anything about this team's offense, which won't stand up to the pressures of the playoffs, and I'm not going to say anything about the fact that they should've beaten the Raiders and Browns by about 21 points each ... I'm just going to compliment their defense, and, in light of the Bears lackluster defensive performance their last time out, anoint it the best in the NFL.
5.	New Orleans	In light of the fact that the Saints offensive line started the season with new starters at every position, the following stats are amazing: they've given up just six sacks this year, and they lead the NFL in fewest sacks allowed per pass. Now, a lot of that is also due to Drew Brees replacing Aaron Brooks and his "run backwards and throw the football in an unspecified direction if time allows" approach to quarterbacking, but it's still pretty remarkable for the Saints. Saints vs. Ravens looks like a great matchup next week.
6.	New England	I'm not concerned about the Patriots offense. As Chad Jackson and Doug Gabriel start to make more and more contributions, the offense is going to get better as the season goes. Their secondary concerns me, though. They've got Minnesota this week, and if Brad Johnson doesn't test it, Peyton Manning certainly will in Week 9.
7.	San Diego	I should probably move them down further ... not because they slept through the first quarter against the Chiefs and lost a winnable game, but because the possible suspension of Shawne Merriman for four games is the kind of thing that could potentially derail an entire season. If they lose to a very good Rams team this weekend, they're suddenly on a losing streak, their best defensive player could miss four games, and things could just snowball. It's a slippery little slope the Bolts are on. Some traction this Sunday against a very good Rams team is a necessity.
8.	NY Giants	The New York Giants, skyrocketing up the list. You know, when people talk about the win over the Cowboys on Monday night, they'll mention the poor play of Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo, but Drew Bledsoe and Tony Romo didn't have much to do with the Giants scoring 36 points. Okay, maybe Romo had a lot to do with the last 7. But this is still an offense that, when getting consistent contributions from Plaxico Burress and Jeremy Shockey, can be nearly unstoppable. If this team is peaking at the right time ... it could be one of those teams.

Week 7 NFL FanHouse Power Rankings: The Mike Tysons, 1-8
Week 7 NFL FanHouse Power Rankings: The Soda Popinskis, 9-16
Week 7 NFL Power Rankings: The Don Flamencos, 17-24
Week 7 NFL FanHouse Power Rankings: The Glass Joes, 25-32

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

10-25-2006 @ 10:47AM

PantsB said...

How about it makes no sense to have Philly ranked third when it has lost three times? Thats just nonsensical.

10-25-2006 @ 4:59PM

longdukdong said...

HOW IN THE WORLD DO YOU HAVE THE IGGLES RANKED 3RD? THAT'S THEIR FAULT THAT THEY LOST 3 GAMES ON THE FINAL PLAY. IF THEY WERE TO MAKE THE PLAYOFFS ANYWAY OL' "UPCHUCK" McNABB WON'T BE ABLE TO HANDLE THE PRESSURE....

10-26-2006 @ 11:20PM

Biernik said...

At the end of the day you are what you are. You can 'what if' all you want. The fact remains the Eagles havn't done anything that warrants this placement. They don't even deserve to be on the list. The Giants beat them while playing anyones worst football all year and have since found thier defense. The Saints have proven themselves better so far. They have several fatal flaws the most obvious of which is their inability to close out games and there is no hope for improvement in sight. How you could possibly consider them for this list is ludicrous.

10-25-2006 @ 9:01PM

Paul said...

The Eagles haven't beaten one single contending football team, Donovan McChoke is Daunte Culpepper light and Andy Reid hasn't learned that you can't win in the NFL without running the ball. The team with a better record that beat them in their home is five places behind them? They may be # 3 in their division, that's it.

10-25-2006 @ 9:35PM

Sean Johnson said...

Putting the Denver Broncos 4th on the Power Rankings shows how much you know about the game... They are number number one. Oh yes I said it! This weekend will prove you and everyone else wrong -Im out-

10-25-2006 @ 9:34PM

10-25-2006 @ 9:57PM

Bob said...

Eagles at #3? You are ranking a team #3 that is one game above .500. You lost me. I'm outta here.

10-25-2006 @ 10:06PM

D Hall said...

You have the Eagles third, behind the Bears and the Colts? And ahead of the Giants? Uh, try actually watching the games next week before you make your list.

The Eagles can't run when they to finish off a game.

You lost credibility with me this week.

10-25-2006 @ 10:39PM

Chuck said...

Don't cry at Philly being # 3. They lead in just about every offensive statistic It's only 3 Losses. We will be 5-3 after this Sunday. And 12-4 on the the Year. If you look at Philly's Schedule after the bye, It's in their favor. This is not last Years Team. :)

10-25-2006 @ 11:15PM

Andrew Pasquini said...

How can the Falcons be #18 once they have the best rushing attack in the NFL?!

10-28-2006 @ 10:30PM

Lauren said...

Lets think about this... Yes the Eagles have lost 3 games, but lets evaluate... Tampa- HOW hot was it there? When any one of you can play in over 100 degree whether and play and run with half the skill of Donovan or the rest of the team i will personally kiss your rear end. As for the saints game, great game, good team to play against, but how about they fact that that team itself was AFRAID of our offense and couldnt even finish the game with some football. They were a bunch of girls. Giants game- yes an embarrasement but go look up the yardage and stats for that game. The day you can tell me that football is all about wins, and not about talent and statistics is the day you know more about football than me. Oh right thats never. I agree with the # 3 rating, and i am not even a huge birds fan! Good rating!

10-25-2006 @ 11:55PM

sam said...

I agree wit the Eagles ranking. However I would put the Giants higher.Eagles go 12-6, Giants 11-5.

10-26-2006 @ 1:13AM

Marty said...

Lauren - are you kidding me?? the eagles would be in the following positions
nfc south - tied for 4th place
nfc west - 3rd place
nfc north - 3rd place
afc west - 3rd place
afc east - tied for 2nd place
afc south - 2nd place
afc north - 3rd place

here is the stat you requested - 13 nfl teams have a better record with 2 more having the same record - out of 32 teams total - only 17 have a worse record.... after 7 games - there is no way the eagles should be considered in ANY top 10 power ranking. Get off McNabb's jock - he has a lot of yards, and a lot of losses.

10-26-2006 @ 9:31AM

Mike Carder said...

The Giants are 4-2 after six games against all first place teams, four on the road, and they're getting better every week. The Bears have played the Lions,Packers,Bills and Cardinals. Get ready to list the G-Men #1 after Sunday nite three weeks from now!!

10-26-2006 @ 11:12AM

Matt Schlegel said...

For all you eagle haters out there, just realize that they could be 7-0 and that is why they are #3 this week. They are 4-3 but it's been a bunch of fixable mistakes which will be corrected for the playoff push.

10-29-2006 @ 12:13AM

Trish said...

How long does it take Phila fans to figure out that have a McMaybe for a quarterback. Primadonna, he doesn't take responsibility for his part in the losses. Latest comments about how they (fans/media) don't concentrate on the "great" plays...just the mistakes on plays. Hello? The score at the end of the game is what counts. His body is "built up" stronger this year, but can't build up the smarts.

10-26-2006 @ 4:32PM

JoSCh said...

MJD, obviously you should just set fire to yourself and jump off a building. I'd say insert my favorite team as 3, since that what these things are about, but in all honesty you were overly kind to them... go Seneca Wallace?

I'm picking Philly to fail in the divisional game.

10-28-2006 @ 6:12PM

lawyer400meters said...

I agree with the Eagles at #3. They've had 3 flukey losses on the final play, but the power ranking measure the strength of a team, not their record. This is by far the best offense in football and they're leading the NFL in sacks. They don't look "great" right now, but neither did Pittsburgh last year. You heard it here first.....Eagles win the Super Bowl this year.

10-29-2006 @ 10:32AM

Marty Marty Marty- Wrong stats... did the stats you listed say ANYTHING about yardage? how about McNabbs pass rating? What you listed is the EXACT thing i said DIDNT matter... Wins and losses... thank you... i said that the record didnt say the strength of a team all of the time, so by the way when you try to discredit my comment, show me the stats i REALLY requested! Thank you...

As for the giants fans, i say good for you guys, they are proving everyone wrong and going further than anyone expected (especially for Eli- the worst manning football player ever...) But he is proving everyone wrong and i agree... they need to be rated fairly high!