Posted on 12/06/2005 11:11:03 AM PST by Ultra Sonic 007
| 2005 Power Rankings: Week 14 | ||||
| RK (LW) | TEAM | REC | COMMENT | |
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1 (1) | Colts | 12-0-0 | Colts can clinch home field this weekend with a win. That means Tony Dungy could have three weekends worth of tough decisions to make regarding how to play his regulars. We hope he goes for 16-0, but couldn't fault him if he decides to rest guys either. |
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2 (3) | Seahawks | 10-2-0 | People question whether they have a championship-caliber defense. The fact that they only allow 17.3 ppg suggests they might. |
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3 (2) | Broncos | 9-3-0 | All that MVP talk is quickly being replaced by the familiar Jake 'The Mistake' Plummer sentiments. |
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4 (4) | Bengals | 9-3-0 | He's not on the level of Peyton Manning or Tom Brady yet, but Carson Palmer is on his way there. |
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5 (7) | Panthers | 9-3-0 | If DeShaun Foster can give the Panthers the one thing they've really been missing -- a consistent rushing attack -- then watch out. |
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6 (6) | Chargers | 8-4-0 | After five straight wins, repeating as AFC West champions is now a real possibility. |
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7 (5) | Bears | 9-3-0 | Obviously you can't replace a QB who has won eight straight starts. But the Bears need a little bit more from Kyle Orton. |
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8 (8) | Jaguars | 9-3-0 | He got off to a bit of a rocky start, but David Garrard rebounded to have a decent game in his first start since the Jags lost Byron Leftwich to injury. |
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9 (10) | Giants | 8-4-0 | The defense is flying, but the Giants have to be a little concerned about Eli Manning's accuracy. After Sunday's 12-for-31 effort, Manning is completing just 51.4 percent of his passes this year. That's not very good. |
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10 (12) | Chiefs | 8-4-0 | Larry Johnson's five straight 100-yard games and seven TDs in that stretch are making folks forget about Priest Holmes. |
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11 (14) | Buccaneers | 8-4-0 | If Bucs can get a split in their next two games (at Panthers and at Patriots) they'll be in pretty good shape for a playoff spot. |
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12 (15) | Patriots | 7-5-0 | They still have some issues, but the Patriots look a whole lot better with Corey Dillon and Kevin Faulk on the field. |
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13 (9) | Steelers | 7-5-0 | The Steelers just aren't supposed to have to win games through the air. Ben Roethlisberger can obviously put up big numbers, but the Steelers need to get their ground game going again. |
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14 (11) | Cowboys | 7-5-0 | Drew Bledsoe sure picked a bad time to have his worst game with the Cowboys. |
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15 (16) | Vikings | 7-5-0 | Yes, what the Vikings are doing is impressive, but all the Mike Tice for coach of the year talk is crazy. Remember, the Vikings were supposed to be this good. |
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16 (13) | Falcons | 7-5-0 | At 7-5 (just 4-4 in the NFC) and with three of their last four games against potential playoff teams (at TB, at Chicago, vs. Carolina), the Falcons are in some trouble. |
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17 (18) | Redskins | 6-6-0 | Redskins kept themselves in it with Sunday's win. But they'll probably have to win out to get to the playoffs. |
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18 (21) | Dolphins | 5-7-0 | Nick Saban is saying Gus Frerotte is still the starting QB ahead of Sage Rosenfels. To which we have just one question: Why? |
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19 (19) | Rams | 5-7-0 | The only thing missing from Joe Vitt's 'my feelings are hurt' speech was the tears, ala Dick Vermeil. |
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20 (17) | Eagles | 5-7-0 | Well, you can now officially put a stake in any remote playoff hopes the Eagles might have had. Or probably in any hopes they had of even being a .500 team. |
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21 (20) | Raiders | 4-8-0 | Kerry Collins deserves the hook. In the last six weeks, he's had four INTs and a fumble result in immediate TDs for the opposition. |
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22 (22) | Bills | 4-8-0 | There have to be some people in Buffalo (coaching staff and front office) who aren't feeling too comfortable right now. |
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23 (23) | Browns | 4-8-0 | One good half and one bad half is what you'll get with a rookie. But overall Charlie Frye played pretty well in his first start. |
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24 (25) | Cardinals | 4-8-0 | OK, Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are the real deal. If the Cards can just get a running game, watch out! |
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25 (28) | Ravens | 4-8-0 | Jamal Lewis wants more carries? Well, he got eight Sunday and only rushed for 17 yards. Maybe he should be thankful the Ravens are giving him any carries. |
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26 (24) | Titans | 3-9-0 | Pacman Jones has had enough trouble on defense this year, why are the Titans messing around with playing him on offense? |
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27 (26) | Saints | 3-9-0 | It's hard to win in the NFL with a QB who is as inconsistent as Aaron Brooks. |
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28 (27) | Lions | 4-8-0 | There was some serious anger in the stands at Ford Field on Sunday. It's pretty clear that a lot of Lions fans aren't buying what Matt Millen is selling. |
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29 (29) | Packers | 2-10-0 | We still love watching Brett Favre play, but he's just making some terrible throws right now. |
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30 (31) | 49ers | 2-10-0 | How bad are things in Ninerland? Alex Smith drew praise on a day in which he threw for less than 200 yards and had three picks. |
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31 (30) | Jets | 2-10-0 | The Jets put up only 164 total yards against a Patriots defense that had allowed four straight QBs to pass for 320 yards or more. |
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32 (32) | Texans | 1-11-0 | How many Texans fans do you think were actually rooting for them to lose Sunday? A player like Reggie Bush possibly being in the draft (no Pete Carroll, we're not trying to influence Bush's decision) will do that. |
(Nov. 22, 2005) -- This is how the NFL's 32 teams stack up after Week 13:
(Teams that look good enough to be among the 12 playoff qualifiers but not based on conference -- listed with record and previous week's ranking)
1. Indianapolis (12-0; unchanged): The watch for perfection -- and when pursuing it becomes secondary to postseason preservation -- continues.
2. Seattle (10-2; 3): So much for the Seahawks' dominance being overlooked because of their location on the map.
3. Cincinnati (9-3; 6): Carson Palmer was right all along about the Bengals being better than the Steelers. Now, he and the rest of Cincy's high-flying offense are gearing up to be the most serious threat to the Colts' Super Bowl run.
4. Denver (9-3; 2): The Broncos couldn't overcome the mystique of Arrowhead, but should easily rebound vs. Baltimore.
5. Chicago (9-3; 7): You can't help but marvel at the playmaking of Nathan Vasher and the rest of the defense, but at some point the offense needs to lend a hand.
6. Carolina (9-3; 8): The Panthers found all of the defensive answers for Michael Vick and the rest of the Falcons' offense, but can they do the same against Tampa Bay?
7. San Diego (8-4; 9): Shawne Merriman has surged to the top of Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates.
8. Jacksonville (9-3; 11): Maybe this team can keep rolling without Byron Leftwich.
9. N.Y. Giants (8-4; 10): After beating up on Drew Bledsoe, the Giants defense can look forward to another big day vs. the woeful Eagles.
10. Kansas City (8-4; unranked): After a no-show effort at Buffalo in Week 10, the Chiefs have turned red hot ... but did it happen too late for them to make the playoffs?
11. Tampa Bay (8-4; 12): Tampa Bay's running game must be at its absolute best if the Bucs are to have a chance of beating the Panthers.
12. Minnesota (7-5; unranked): Hard as it might seem to believe, the Vikings have won five in a row and that cannot be ignored.
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MIDDLE OF THE PACK(Listed alphabetically)Atlanta Falcons (7-5) Dallas Cowboys (7-5) Miami Dolphins (5-7) New England Patriots (7-5) Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5) St. Louis Rams (5-7) Washington Redskins (6-6)
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NEED WORK(Listed alphabetically)Arizona Cardinals (4-8) Baltimore Ravens (4-8) Buffalo Bills (4-8) Cleveland Browns (4-8) Detroit Lions (4-8) Green Bay Packers (2-10) Houston Texans (1-11) New Orleans Saints (3-9) New York Jets (2-10) Oakland Raiders (4-8) Philadelphia Eagles (5-7) San Francisco 49ers (2-10) Tennessee Titans (3-9) |
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After our defense's thrashing of the Dallas Cowchildren, the Giants move up a spot in both polls. :-D
Next week: the Iggles!
Over heard at the Texans game last Sunday. "Gettttt Readddddy to Fumble!!!!!"
Dallas is done! The offensive line is toast, and Bledsoe is doing his late season swoon, just like everyone in Buffalo said he would.
My Steelers need help. The O-Line is just not creating holes or protecting the QB. I'm about ready to suit up for them.
ONe team is clearly superior to the Bears. Even without a passing game they could beat any of the rest. There should at least be a tie for third.
That sums it up real good.
Both Eli and Drew had a horrible game. In fact, both Giants vs. Cowboys games this year were exhibitions in ugliness. Neither team will go anywhere if their offenses play like that.
Texans Vs (S)aints = the Toilet Bowl.
I agree. And the NFC east will not produce a SB participant this year anyway.
It must be a great time to be a Colts fan.
It is a source of continual amazement to me how screwed up the 49ers are - to the point that they accidentally won two games and by doing so have probably screwed up their chances in the Reggie Bush sweepstakes. ;)
Finally San Diego is ahead of Chicago in these rankings. I know SD can take Chicago apart like a cheap toy. Da Bears haven't seen an offense like ours or a back like LT.
They need the play calling, Cowher has gone pass whacky the last two games, they need to get back to playing Steeler football.
Dungy will not allow the Colts to go 16-0. He will rest the starters and they will lose 1 or 2 games. Too bad they aren't in a race, because they could have done it. What makes me mad is I have Harrison and Manning on my fantasy team, and Dungy will be resting them during our playoffs.
Grew up in NJ and was a Giant then a Jet Fan. Now......
blocking would help too. As a former OT, I saw very little forward movement by the O-Line. Essex needs work and they need to keep a 2 tight end set to keep the outside pressure off Ben/Tommy/Batch/Randel El and whoever else they throw behind center.
Well you're not supposed to block forward on passes, which is one of the reasons o-lines like run plays more. Again I think it goes down to play selection, these guys have been training to be a run oriented football team blocking for runs 2/3 of the time and the last two games they've been blocking for passes most of the time right from the opening gun. They picked their o-line for one purpose and they're not using them for that anymore, results are predictable.
I was speaking of their run plays. They had very little forward momentum on any of the attempted plays. Getting blown back and haveing a 260lb back (Bettis) or a 245lb back (Staley) get tackled consistentley or having first contact behind the line of scrimmage is piss poor.
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