KingPriest2
10-26-2004, 12:25 PM
Power Rankings: Pats, Eagles, Vikes lonely at the top
By Pete Prisco
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Updated Oct. 26, 2004
So much for this idea there were six or seven power teams in the NFL.
We're lucky if we have three.
PHOTOS: « PREV | NEXT »
Daunte Culpepper didn't even need Randy Moss in Week 7. (AP)
That's it. New England, Philadelphia and Minnesota, you've earned that distinction.
The Colts, Jets, Falcons and Broncos all blew their chance this past week, putting in doubt as to whether any of them can prove to be an elite team.
That can change in the coming weeks, but as of this moment can we consider any of those elite teams? Of the four, the Colts are the best bet to get back to that level. Their offense is too good for that not to happen.
But losing at home to the Jaguars as 10-point favorites is a tough way to show you're a power team. The Jets lost at Foxboro, Mass., to the Patriots, so that one wasn't too bad. But the Falcons were embarrassed by the Chiefs and the Broncos lost a game they had no business losing to the Bengals on Monday night.
This all makes it tougher and tougher each week to put together the top 10 of the SportsLine.com Power Rankings. Where do we get the 10 teams?
The Steelers are in the fourth spot right now, which says something about the changes made in the past month. Who would have thought that possible at the start of October?
A victory over New England this Sunday by the Steelers, coupled with a loss by the Eagles to the Ravens, could vault the Steelers into the top spot next week and could make Big Ben the toast of Steel Town (if he isn't already).
POLL
Excluding the Eagles and Pats, which is the best (one-loss) team in the NFL?
Vikings
Steelers
Jets
Teams with 2 losses are better even
But think about it: Are the Steelers really a power team?
The next two weeks could really shake things up at the top. On Nov. 7, the Patriots go to St. Louis, the Eagles play at Pittsburgh and the Monday night game that week is Minnesota at Indianapolis.
Our shrinking top could be even smaller by early November.
That Subway diet or even the artery-clogging Atkins diet can't save the NFL now. It's middle is getting bigger and bigger by the week, and the top is shrinking like a ring finger in the bitter cold.
The bottom isn't so wide, either. There are some bad teams, but not many, which makes for an off shape for the league.
Dr. Phil, the NFL needs your help. It's getting way too big in the middle -- again.
The complete Power Rankings after Week 7:
POWER RANKINGS
Current Team Previous
1 New England Patriots 1
The beat goes on. But they will be tested this week at Pittsburgh.
2 Philadelphia Eagles 2
They faced a test for once and they passed. That's something they will need as they move on this season, but it also puts into question how good they really are.
3 Minnesota Vikings 4
Even when they aren't rolling up huge offensive numbers, they find a way. They are getting better on defense.
4 Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Coming off their bye week, they get their chance to end the Patriots' streak. The defense has to play better.
5 Jacksonville Jaguars 12
Is it time to think this team is for real? It's about the offense now for this group.
6 Indianapolis Colts 3
That's a stinging loss to the Jaguars, and now they face a tough road game at Kansas City.
7 New York Jets 5
That was a good showing in New England, but not quite enough. Still, there's a playoff look to this team.
8 Denver Broncos 6
That wasn't too good Monday night against the Bengals. Luckily, they play in a soft division.
9 Baltimore Ravens 13
Even without any semblance of a passing game, they're winning games. They'll need one Sunday at Philly.
10 Detroit Lions 14
Three-and-oh on the road. Wow. Steve Mariucci is doing a heck of a job with this young group.
11 New York Giants 8
They didn't play all that well coming off the bye, but maybe this team simply exceeded expectations in the first six weeks.
12 Atlanta Falcons 9
Was that start a mirage? Or can this team get back to playing good football again?
13 Houston Texans 15
Coming out of the bye they have a huge game Sunday against the Jaguars.
14 St. Louis Rams 10
Losing to Miami should never happen. This team isn't the same as the Rams teams we have come to know the past five years.
15 Seattle Seahawks 11
Three consecutive losses has Seattle searching for answers. Were they really as good as their start?
16 San Diego Chargers 19
This team is the surprise of the season so far. Coach Marty Schottenheimer deserves tons of credit.
17 Green Bay Packers 18
They appear to have righted the ship, getting the offense back on track and at least playing a little better on defense.
18 Tennessee Titans 17
This season is going south quickly. If Steve McNair is out for a week or so, it's really going to go bad.
19 Kansas City Chiefs 22
That's what we expected from the Chiefs this year, a powerful offense that can't be stopped. They're still kicking.
20 New Orleans Saints 24
For all the talk of them being dead, they're only two games out of first place heading into a much-needed bye.
21 Dallas Cowboys 16
In three weeks, they have gone from playoff hopefuls to also-rans. This is a season that will test Bill Parcells.
22 Cleveland Browns 20
That was a good effort against the Eagles, but playing close matters little in the standings.
23 Washington Redskins 26
Maybe they found an offense during the bye week. It's unlikely. Here's hoping Joe Gibbs got some rest.
24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30
Don't count this group out yet. In the NFC South, a weak division, anything is possible.
25 Cincinnati Bengals 25
Now that's what we thought we would get from this Bengals team -- a young, energetic effort each week. That was an impressive Monday night victory.
26 Arizona Cardinals 29
Dennis Green has the makings of a nice team out West. They have some good, young defensive players.
27 Miami Dolphins 32
They're moving on up. Well, a couple of spots anyway. That was a nice game against the Rams.
28 Carolina Panthers 21
Too many injuries have crippled this team, which wasn't nearly as good as everyone thought even when it was healthy.
29 Oakland Raiders 23
Done. Over. Finished. This team doesn't have the want to turn this season around.
30 Chicago Bears 27
Yecch. That's some bad quarterbacking we're seeing from the Bears.
31 San Francisco 49ers 28
We knew this would be a rebuilding year, so coming off the bye week, it will be interesting to see how this young team reacts.
32 Buffalo Bills 31
That offense is horrific. Drew Bledsoe can't get it done anymore and they are going nowhere.
By Pete Prisco
SportsLine.com Senior Writer
Tell Pete your opinion!
Updated Oct. 26, 2004
So much for this idea there were six or seven power teams in the NFL.
We're lucky if we have three.
PHOTOS: « PREV | NEXT »
Daunte Culpepper didn't even need Randy Moss in Week 7. (AP)
That's it. New England, Philadelphia and Minnesota, you've earned that distinction.
The Colts, Jets, Falcons and Broncos all blew their chance this past week, putting in doubt as to whether any of them can prove to be an elite team.
That can change in the coming weeks, but as of this moment can we consider any of those elite teams? Of the four, the Colts are the best bet to get back to that level. Their offense is too good for that not to happen.
But losing at home to the Jaguars as 10-point favorites is a tough way to show you're a power team. The Jets lost at Foxboro, Mass., to the Patriots, so that one wasn't too bad. But the Falcons were embarrassed by the Chiefs and the Broncos lost a game they had no business losing to the Bengals on Monday night.
This all makes it tougher and tougher each week to put together the top 10 of the SportsLine.com Power Rankings. Where do we get the 10 teams?
The Steelers are in the fourth spot right now, which says something about the changes made in the past month. Who would have thought that possible at the start of October?
A victory over New England this Sunday by the Steelers, coupled with a loss by the Eagles to the Ravens, could vault the Steelers into the top spot next week and could make Big Ben the toast of Steel Town (if he isn't already).
POLL
Excluding the Eagles and Pats, which is the best (one-loss) team in the NFL?
Vikings
Steelers
Jets
Teams with 2 losses are better even
But think about it: Are the Steelers really a power team?
The next two weeks could really shake things up at the top. On Nov. 7, the Patriots go to St. Louis, the Eagles play at Pittsburgh and the Monday night game that week is Minnesota at Indianapolis.
Our shrinking top could be even smaller by early November.
That Subway diet or even the artery-clogging Atkins diet can't save the NFL now. It's middle is getting bigger and bigger by the week, and the top is shrinking like a ring finger in the bitter cold.
The bottom isn't so wide, either. There are some bad teams, but not many, which makes for an off shape for the league.
Dr. Phil, the NFL needs your help. It's getting way too big in the middle -- again.
The complete Power Rankings after Week 7:
POWER RANKINGS
Current Team Previous
1 New England Patriots 1
The beat goes on. But they will be tested this week at Pittsburgh.
2 Philadelphia Eagles 2
They faced a test for once and they passed. That's something they will need as they move on this season, but it also puts into question how good they really are.
3 Minnesota Vikings 4
Even when they aren't rolling up huge offensive numbers, they find a way. They are getting better on defense.
4 Pittsburgh Steelers 7
Coming off their bye week, they get their chance to end the Patriots' streak. The defense has to play better.
5 Jacksonville Jaguars 12
Is it time to think this team is for real? It's about the offense now for this group.
6 Indianapolis Colts 3
That's a stinging loss to the Jaguars, and now they face a tough road game at Kansas City.
7 New York Jets 5
That was a good showing in New England, but not quite enough. Still, there's a playoff look to this team.
8 Denver Broncos 6
That wasn't too good Monday night against the Bengals. Luckily, they play in a soft division.
9 Baltimore Ravens 13
Even without any semblance of a passing game, they're winning games. They'll need one Sunday at Philly.
10 Detroit Lions 14
Three-and-oh on the road. Wow. Steve Mariucci is doing a heck of a job with this young group.
11 New York Giants 8
They didn't play all that well coming off the bye, but maybe this team simply exceeded expectations in the first six weeks.
12 Atlanta Falcons 9
Was that start a mirage? Or can this team get back to playing good football again?
13 Houston Texans 15
Coming out of the bye they have a huge game Sunday against the Jaguars.
14 St. Louis Rams 10
Losing to Miami should never happen. This team isn't the same as the Rams teams we have come to know the past five years.
15 Seattle Seahawks 11
Three consecutive losses has Seattle searching for answers. Were they really as good as their start?
16 San Diego Chargers 19
This team is the surprise of the season so far. Coach Marty Schottenheimer deserves tons of credit.
17 Green Bay Packers 18
They appear to have righted the ship, getting the offense back on track and at least playing a little better on defense.
18 Tennessee Titans 17
This season is going south quickly. If Steve McNair is out for a week or so, it's really going to go bad.
19 Kansas City Chiefs 22
That's what we expected from the Chiefs this year, a powerful offense that can't be stopped. They're still kicking.
20 New Orleans Saints 24
For all the talk of them being dead, they're only two games out of first place heading into a much-needed bye.
21 Dallas Cowboys 16
In three weeks, they have gone from playoff hopefuls to also-rans. This is a season that will test Bill Parcells.
22 Cleveland Browns 20
That was a good effort against the Eagles, but playing close matters little in the standings.
23 Washington Redskins 26
Maybe they found an offense during the bye week. It's unlikely. Here's hoping Joe Gibbs got some rest.
24 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 30
Don't count this group out yet. In the NFC South, a weak division, anything is possible.
25 Cincinnati Bengals 25
Now that's what we thought we would get from this Bengals team -- a young, energetic effort each week. That was an impressive Monday night victory.
26 Arizona Cardinals 29
Dennis Green has the makings of a nice team out West. They have some good, young defensive players.
27 Miami Dolphins 32
They're moving on up. Well, a couple of spots anyway. That was a nice game against the Rams.
28 Carolina Panthers 21
Too many injuries have crippled this team, which wasn't nearly as good as everyone thought even when it was healthy.
29 Oakland Raiders 23
Done. Over. Finished. This team doesn't have the want to turn this season around.
30 Chicago Bears 27
Yecch. That's some bad quarterbacking we're seeing from the Bears.
31 San Francisco 49ers 28
We knew this would be a rebuilding year, so coming off the bye week, it will be interesting to see how this young team reacts.
32 Buffalo Bills 31
That offense is horrific. Drew Bledsoe can't get it done anymore and they are going nowhere.