NFL POWER RANKINGS UPDATE
Alright... So we're passed the halfway mark of what has been once crazy NFL Season.
Since I love to put myself on blast and let you guys tell me how my "out there picks" were ridiculous from the start... But this NFL season actually I feel pretty dang good about my picks! So let's compare the current standings with my picks on August 31, 2018...
Let's look at the division standings first starting in the AFC...
Current AFC East
1. New England Patriots (7-2)
2. Miami Dolphins (5-4)
3. New York Jets (3-6)
4. Buffalo Bills (2-7)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. New England Patriots
2. Buffalo Bills
3. New York Jets
4. Miami Dolphins
OK... So Josh Allen didn't stay healthy which drastically impacts the Bills season since I was counting on Allen's athleticism winning them some games... Nathan Peterman?... Oh yeah, Tom Brady is the G.O.A.T.... Next question...
Current AFC North
1. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2-1)
2. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3)
3. Baltimore Ravens (4-5)
4. Cleveland Browns (2-6-1)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1.Pittsburgh Steelers
2. Baltimore Ravens
3. Cleveland Browns
4. Cincinnati Bengals
Andy Dalton has proved me wrong to this point. But also John Harbaugh has proved me wrong. I'm interested to see how the Bengals look trying to make a playoff run without A.J. Green for a few weeks.
Current AFC South
1. Houston Texans (6-3)
2. Tennessee Titans (3-4)
3. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5)
4. Indianapolis Colts (3-5)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. Houston Texans
2. Jacksonville Jaguars
3. Indianapolis Colts
4. Tennessee Titans
I'm proud of the Texans for turning their season around. If you read my predictions for the NFL season, I said how this Texans team is just too talented this year to not win this division. Also, the Jags have proven the point that they don't plan on doing what is necessary to be a championship contender. Mike Vrabel has impressed me with the Titans, but injuries and the inability of Mariota to pass right now I think will lead to the Colts and Jags leap-frogging them.
Current AFC West
1. Kansas City Chiefs (8-1)
2. Los Angeles Chargers (6-2)
3. Denver Broncos (3-6)
4. Oakland Raiders (1-7)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. Los Angeles Chargers
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Denver Broncos
4. Oakland Raiders
Well, obviously Mahomes didn't get the message that you're supposed to have growing pains when you first become a starting QB. I am still proud of the Chargers for the grit they have showed this season as they are proving they are a real playoff team for once. And the Broncos are my biggest disappointment to this point of the year, by far... The Raiders we CANNOT judge until we see who they take with the draft picks they traded for... Judgement day will come for the 'Las Vegas' Raiders, but the Oakland Raiders are already dead...
So far, so good! In such an unpredictable league injury-wise, for once I'm kind of liking my picks! :)
Current NFC East
1. Washington Redskins (5-3)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4)
3. Dallas Cowboys (3-4)
4. New York Giants (1-7)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. New York Giants
3. Dallas Cowboys
4. Washington Redskins
The Eagles are already back nipping on the heels of the Redskins with plenty of time left to catch them (including two head-to-head matchups with each other). The Giants program has been a disgrace and it's a shame to see Barkley stuck in that awful Front Office. Also, I learned that every time I think Alex Smith will lose. he wins. And vise versa.
Current NFC North
1. Chicago Bears (5-3)
2. Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1)
3. Green Bay Packers (3-4-1)
4. Detroit Lions (3-5)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. Minnesota Vikings
2. Green Bay Packers
3. Detroit Lions
4. Chicago Bears
The Chicago Bears have proven that they are ready right now to make a playoff impact. However, the Vikings have NO excuse to not win this division with how the Green Bay Packers are playing. The Lions are starting to build for the future, so they are going to struggle in the present.
Current NFC South
1. New Orleans Saints (7-1)
2. Carolina Panthers (6-2)
3. Atlanta Falcons (4-4)
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. Carolina Panthers
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Atlanta Falcons
4. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
The Saints and Panthers are proving what I thought. That this division has some serious talent. The Buccaneers and Falcons are proving what I thought. That coaching DOES matter and it is the reason they'll find themselves in the bottom of the division.
Current NFC West
1. Los Angeles Rams (8-1)
2. Seattle Seahawks (4-4)
3. Arizona Cardinals (2-6)
4. San Francisco 49ers (2-7)
MM Pre-Season Prediction
1. Los Angeles Rams
2. San Francisco 49ers
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Arizona Cardinals
Um. The Rams are good. Like reallllyyyyy good. A Jimmy-G injury lead to the end of the season for the 49ers but they may have found a gem in Nick Mullens (or the Raiders are THAT bad). The Seahawks are outdated and it has definitely caught up.
Updated Power Rankings
1. Los Angeles Rams (8-1) -
Yes, they just lost to the Saints. But they were on the road and haven't had a bye week yet. They are the most complete team in the league and just added Fowler to their pass rush to make them even more complete. Most importantly? Their coaching staff is SUPERB!
2. New England Patriots (7-2) +2
Speaking of superb coaching staffs... Tom Brady is CLEARLY the greatest QB of all time, and this is coming from a sports fan who can't stand Boston sporting teams... With Michel and Gronk healthy, why wouldn't you like this team?
3. Kansas City Chiefs +10
Mahomes has made the QB position look so easy that it's terrifying. But they have one big problem in their way... Number 12...
4. New Orleans Saints (7-1) +3
Drew Brees is amazing. I am just amazed by him and his ability to still do it at this age and his height. Sean Peyton just can't get too cute and outsmart himself. When you have Kamara, Brees, Thomas and a freak like Taysom Hill. You use them.
5. Carolina Panthers (6-2) +1
Cam Newton has made me so proud. He has been a winner. They are a serious threat in the already stacked NFC.
6. Houston Texans (6-3) -1
Talk about tough beginnings leading to a beautiful rainbow... The Texans have run off 6 straight wins after starting the year 0-3 and they are finally looking healthy and comfortable. Due to the rough times in the Jaguars Front Office, the Texans are in a position to not only win a division, but compete for a bye.
7. Los Angeles Chargers (6-2) +4
That StubHub Center must be rockin' lately!... All kidding aside, the Chargers have played really strong football on both sides of the ball. Their kicking game has been a concern and we will see how much they can improve on it after the release of Santos.
8. Minnesota Vikings (5-3-1) -5
The injuries on defense and to Dalvin Cook haven't helped. However, they defense took over in a powerful way against the Lions in Week 9. If they can keep that kind of pressure on QBs, this team will be able to turn it around in time for the playoffs.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2-1) -1
They're getting better every week. But at what point does Lev Bell come back? And if he does, will it help the Steelers or be a distraction? There's a lot of concerns on this team that caution me from putting them on too high of a pedestal...
10. Chicago Bears (5-3) +12
Da Bears!... They've shown some serious promise and some serious issues. They are competitors and should be taken seriously, I just don't think they're ready to be Super Bowl contenders...
11. Philadelphia Eagles (4-4) -9
Struggling. But lucky for them their whole division is a struggle bus. They'll make the playoffs by winning their division, the question is how confident are you in this team in a playoff game against any playoff team in the stacked NFC?...
12. Washington Redskins (5-3) +9
They keep getting my hopes up and then they fall right back off the horse. I want them so badly to win the division... But I'm not feeling too confident about it...
13. Atlanta Falcons (4-4) -1
Unlike most people, the Falcons are right where I thought they would be. A .500 team with sub-par coaching deserves a sub-par result. They're heating up as of late, but I don't see a scenario where I'd pick them to beat Carolina or New Orleans...
14. Green Bay Packers (3-4-1) -4
Aaron Rodgers is arguably the most talented QB in the league which means they should always be in the playoff discussion. The scary part for Packer fans is that they are starting to slip from the discussion...
15. Cincinnati Bengals (5-3) +16
They've been better. But the question to me with a Marvin Lewis team is how long can they hold on? Judging history, even if they make the playoffs they won't win.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-5) -7
The QB issues have now leaked into defensive issues. The missing of Fournette and the clock management he brought with him looks to be a serious impact on this team and yes I am STILL disappointed they haven't added Eli, Bridgewater, Winston, or Carr...
17. Tennessee Titans (4-4) +8
A solid win against the Cowboys keeps the Titans playoff hopes alive. And with Vrabel at the helm, I don't it's that crazy to see the Titans competing for a Wild Card spot the last game of the season. Head coaching is THAT important.
18. Detroit Lions (3-5) -2
I feel like they're finally building a solid roster the right way... But it might take a year or two until the results start to show. The good news is that Stafford still looks like a solid QB for the time being which is something that can't be taken lightly right now.
19. Seattle Seahawks (4-4) +5
They're hanging in there... But for how long? Looking at their age, injuries, and lack of O-line I'd say not much longer...
20. Miami Dolphins (5-4) +12
Love the Drake. But Osweiler? I can't take a team seriously for playoff contention with him as the signal caller.
21. Indianapolis Colts (3-5) -4
Andrew Luck is that good. He has totally proved himself to be an elite QB. The rest of the roster? That's a different story...
22. Baltimore Ravens (4-5) -4
I thought Harbaugh could keep this team just good enough with Flacco to make the postseason push. But now I'm watching Lamar Jackson who I was already praising and just getting even more excited to see what he can bring to the Ravens next year as their starting QB.
23. New York Jets (3-6) +7
They're young. Just like Rams fans needed to be patient with Jared Goff his rookie year, Jets fans will have to be patient with Darnold.
24. Dallas Cowboys (3-5) -4
This team lacks elite coaching and honestly lacks elite talent. Their linebacker crew is amazing now and the Cowboys need to build on that NOW. Add O-line, add defensive backs and let Zeke control time of possession...
25. Denver Broncos (3-6) -6
Biggest disappointment in my eyes so far. There's no one big injury to blame this embarrassment of a season so the blame falls on the head coach and QB usually... And in this case, that might be completely accurate...
26. San Francisco 49ers (2-7) -12
No Jimmy-G? No problem for Nick Mullens. At least the 49ers are still showing bursts of young talent and a bright future which makes dealing with these current struggles bearable.
27. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) -1
Jameis is out. Fitz-Magic is in. But this isn't a long-term solution. I'll be real interested to see where Winston ends up and who's under center to start the 2019-20 season for the Bucs...
28. Cleveland Browns (2-6-1) -5
Anytime you don't fire a coach after going 0-16, your judgement already looks bad. Now that they let Hue Jackson go, I feel like the Browns STILL can't find an identity besides the team that loses. Baker Mayfield looks electric and needs time to develop. But I'd hate to see him have to deal with new offensive coordinators every year like what Tannehill went through...
29. Arizona Cardinals (2-6) -
They are obviously in a rebuild... It might take awhile for this team to straighten in out in an already tough division and conference...
30. Oakland Raiders (1-7) -2
The Oakland Raiders are dead. The Las Vegas Raiders are just getting started. It's all going to come down to what they do with the draft picks they've accumulated...
31. New York Giants (1-7) -16
Eli should be in Jacksonville competing for his last chance at a ring. Instead the Jags want to squander their playoff hopes and the Giants want to waste an amazing season for Barkley without adding any draft picks or young support to grow with him. Disappointed...
32. Buffalo Bills (2-7) -5
Josh Allen looked pretty good. But the injury to anything on his throwing arm when he thrives on arm strength is a major concern. I don't think I can watch another Nathan Peterman game. Actually, I'd watch Peterman and the Bills take on Tua and the Crimson Tide...
As of 6 November 2018
-Host Alex Strizak
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