Click here for last week's Power 10.
1 (2) Giants 3-0
The defending Super Bowl champions finally get some love in the Power 10. It’s been a long time coming, because God knows respect comes hard from this lifelong Patriots fan, but there are some undeniable facts here.
First, they made the Washington Redskins look stupid. As we’ve since discovered, the Redskins are a pretty good football team.
Second, until the horseshoe is surgically removed from Eli Manning’s butt, he’s extremely dangerous in clutch situations.
Third, they might have the second best defense in football.
The scary part: they could have been even better this season. Imagine how good this team would be with Osi Umenyiora…
2 (5) Tennessee 4-0
If the best team in the NFL resides in New York, the best defense in football resides in Tennessee. The Titans have continued to dominate using their patented formula of running the ball and destroying opposing offenses.
Chris Johnson and LenDale White make a pretty good one-two punch…
3 (4) Bills 4-0
The Bills just keep on winning. While everyone was watching Brett Favre’s coming out party and anointing the Jets the best team in the AFC East again, the Buffalo Bills were quietly dispatching yet another opponent (OK, it was the Rams…but it still counts).
The AFC East goes through Buffalo this season. Better start getting used to it.
4 (1) Cowboys 3-1
I struggled with this one, because my innate sense of fairness dictated that I drop the Cowboys one more spot, below the team that beat them. But I can’t help but think that if the game were played 10 more times, the Cowboys might win eight of them.
5 (9) Redskins 3-1
As far as I’m concerned, the Redskins’ early season performance is the surprise of the season. They have an average offense led by a shaky quarterback, an above average defense that doesn’t do any one thing great, and a first year head coach.
This is a team that should NOT be 3-1. Yet, here they are.
I am impressed. A few more wins and I might be won over.
6 (3) Broncos 3-1
Holy crap, the Broncos’ defense is terrible. Back in 2003 and 2004, the Colts had what I thought at the time was the biggest disparity between offensive and defensive talent—rivaled only by the 2000 Baltimore Ravens (in the opposite direction, obviously).
But this Broncos team puts those pathetic Colts' defenses to shame.
Second in points scored, second in points against. Not exactly the balance you’re looking for…
7 (7) Steelers 3-1
I’m a defense guy. I love good defense. I always enjoy a good Steelers-Ravens game.
Speaking as a defense guy who loves watching quarterbacks get sacked, I love watching the Steelers’ offensive line.
8 (-) Panthers 3-1
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3 months ago
well i guess I have nothing to complain aobut people disrespecting the Giants anymore... please don't let Tom coughlin or any Giants find this or ESPN's power rankings because they will feel the need to relax and not use other people doubting them as motivation
from 3 months ago
All a part of my secret plan... :)
3 months ago
woa woa woa The REDSKINS defense not great we held the cowboys to the least yardage they had in awhile and we have shut out oppents in the fourth except the cowboys(1 td) btw campbell is the highest rated passer in the nfc east so hes not shaky
from 3 months ago
The defense as a whole is playing pretty well. What I meant was they're a really good defense that does no single thing spectacularly.
Their secondary is good, not great.
Their front seven is good, not great.
Yet together, they're playing out of their minds, especially late in games (as you pointed out).
Thanks for the comments!
3 months ago
All of the following coming from a Giants fan:
The Skin's shouldn't be 3-1? Well they are. Beating the top-rated and most talked about team in the league should count for something, namely being ranked ahead of them.
Before the season started, I thought the Skin's would be the 4th place team in the NFC East, but I don't think that any more. They may still finish 4th, but last weeks win showed me a lot of grit and toughness, something the cowboys have yet to show me after three years of talk.
Flip the ratings Sean!
from 3 months ago
I may revisit this next week. I didn't like leaving the Cowboys above the Skins at all.
The good news is, Power Rankings don't mean much. The Skins are ahead of the Cowboys where it counts....
3 months ago
To answer your question: It would so be all of the above, but it would have that kind of train-wreck quality that might keep people around just to kind of see where it all ends up.
from 3 months ago
Another question: which team would Vegas favor?
from 3 months ago
Might as well get into character:
Vegas says the Rams are laying 5 but if Palmer gets back don't be surprised to see that line swing, dramatically.
3 months ago
It's good to see my Panthers in your top 10 for what I believe is the first time this year!
from 3 months ago
Love Jake Delhomme. Had I known he was going to show no ill effects from his surgery, and his mere presence would add three years to Muhsin's career, they might have been in the Power 10 after week 1!
Thanks for reading!
3 months ago
Their all pretty accurate to me. I agree with putting the Cowboys in front of the Redskins cause personally i think their still the better team like you mentioned
3 months ago
I loved your Eli Manning quote, and you're right, thats a good defense. But you cant help but watch them and wonder "man, what if they had Michael and Osi?" The Titans have the best defense in the league and you ranked the Bills too high IMO...they're still good though.
from 3 months ago
Could be ranking the Bills too high. The thing is, they could go 12-4 without beating a single high-quality team (with the exception of Jacksonville).
How do you rank a team that plays a schedule like that?
Until they lose, they keep moving up....
3 months ago
You are correct Sean. The best NFL team resides in New York (Buffalo is the only team that resides in New York.) Go Bills!
from 3 months ago
Best in the AFC East...maybe. Best in the NFL? Not so sure....
3 months ago
Haha, gotta have some team loyalty thats all Sean
from 3 months ago
I can respect that. I had the Patriots number one after the Tom Brady injury for the same reason.
Of course, I've since come to despise Matt Cassel....
3 months ago
We all knew Matt Cassel wasn't going to fill Brady's shoes.
Anyway, the Giants are looking great. I think that if they get to the post season, Osi and Strahan's absences will come back to bite them in the rear.
The Colts are going to bounce back. Injuries are never good for a high-octane offense that relies heavily on veteran leadership.
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