12 oz of NFL Power Rankings: Bengals and Browns fall
By Scott Bantel
Sep 29, 2013; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Browns cornerback Chris Owens (21) and Cleveland Browns free safety Tashaun Gipson (39) break up a pass intended for Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Marvin Jones (82) during the fourth quarter at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Browns beat the Bengals 17-6. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Two weeks of poor performances by the teams up top means not a lot of movement in the rankings.
Rank
Team
Record
Comment
Prev. Week
1
Denver Broncos
8-1
I still believe this is the best team in the NFL even with a dinged up Manning. The Chiefs will get their say this week!
1
2
Kansas City Chiefs
9-0
Not that they care about my disrespect, but they get the chance to prove me wrong this week. 9-0 recordis impressive. 30-54 combined record (.350) of opponents is not.
2
3
New Orlean Saints
7-2
Very impressive at home. Only losses are @ 7-2 NE and @ 5-4 NYJ. Not bad losses.
5
4
Seattle Seahawks
9-1
9-1 but they have looked shaky on the road and took OT to beat the 2-7 Texans and 1-8 Buccanners (at home).
6
5
New England Patriots
7-2
Not sure how they have done it with this roster, but they currently have a 1 game lead for the 2nd bye in the AFC.
4
6
Carolina Panthers
6-3
I have been one of the biggest detractors of Cam Newton since he came in the league because he had lots of numbers and not many wins. He is now getting the wins (regardless of numbers).
10
7
San Francisco 49ers
6-3
The defense is good, not dominant. Kaepernick has 12 total TDs and 11 turnovers. If the playoffs started today, the 49ers are 0-3 against playoff teams and 6-0 against non-playoff teams.
3
8
Cincinnati Bengals
6-4
2 terrible games by Dalton, yet the Bengals still had a chance to win both – and no one below has impressed enough to move up. The defense is wounded, but still good.
7
9
Indianapolis Colts
6-3
Since the emotional win against Manning, the Colts needed a monstrous comeback to beat the (now) 2-7 Texans without their coach and a QB making his 1st start – and they lost by 30 to 4-6 Rams team starting a journeyman backup.
8
10
Detroit Lions
6-3
They may be in first place, but they barely beat a Bears team with a hobbled Cutler and McCown and they needed a freak performance by CJ to beat a bad Cowboys team.
9
11
Arizona Cardinals
5-4
Probably the most overlooked team in the NFL. They have a good defense and enough offensive weapons to hurt opponents. Only losses are last second FG @StL, @NO, Sea and @SF – not bad.
11
12
Chicago Bears
5-4
The Tillman loss is a big blow, however, even without Cutler and Tillman, McCown and the rest of the defense are good enough to keep the Bears relevant.
12
13
Philadelphia Eagles
5-5
My rankings of the Eagles are as erratic as the team itself. Tough to get a read on a team with back to back wins over teams ending the games with Matthew McGloin and Scott Tolzien at QB.
21
14
Dallas Cowboys
5-5
This is the flashiest, most talked about .500 franchise ever. Since the end of the 1996 season, the Cowboys are 272-272 and 1-6 in the playoffs (17 years) – the GM should fire himself.
14
15
Tennessee Titans
4-5
I don’t think they lose much between Locker and Fitzpatrick, but even in a weak AFC, this is a team just short of playoff caliber.
15
16
San Diego Chargers
4-5
New coach, same inconsistencies and .500 look. Maybe it is Rivers? In 4 years with LT, Rivers was 28 games over .500 (46-18). In 3.5 years without LT, Rivers is 1 game under .500 (28-29).
16
17
New York Jets
5-4
If the season ended today, the Jets are the 6 seed in the AFC. They lost to the Bengals (current 4 seed) by 40.
17
18
Baltimore Ravens
4-5
Thanks to a mistake prone Bengals offense, the Ravens season is still alive. A loss in Chicago on Sunday could put the Ravens on life support.
19
19
Green Bay Packers
5-4
With Rodgers, this is a top 5 team. With Scott Tolzien, no Cobb and no Finley, this is not a very good team. If the Packers can’t win 2 without Rodgers, it may be too late when he comes back.
13
20
Saint Louis Rams
4-6
Where did the 30 point beat down of the Colts come from? As impressive of a performance as that was, I think that was an outlier.
25
21
Cleveland Browns
4-5
The defense is good and Campbell is compitant, but to make the playoffs, the Browns need to go 6-1 down the stretch (@Cin, @NE, @NYJ, @Pit and home against Pit and Chi left) – not happening.
20
22
New York Giants
3-6
I picked them to win the division. After a 0-6 start, they stand just 1.5 out of first. I stand by them as my NFC North pick.
24
23
Washington Redskins
3-6
Just when you think they were getting things together, they lose to the Vikings…and give up 34 points in the process!
22
24
Buffalo Bills
3-7
With a healthy Manuel and Spiller, this is a decent team that teams are not going to want to face down the stretch.
23
25
Miami Dolphins
4-5
This is a team (and an organization) in disarray. They have lost 5 of 6 with their only win coming compliments of a last second game tying FG and a safety to win it.
18
26
Pittsburgh Steelers
3-6
A win at home against a rookie QB in his first week back from a knee injury is hardly considered back on track. Now there are rumors of Roethlisberger wanting a trade?
29
27
Oakland Raiders
3-6
Pryor has 5 TDs, 10 INTs and 5 fumbles and people want to discuss him as an NFL QB? SMH.
26
28
Atlanta Falcons
2-7
In the last 3 seasons, the Falcons have twice been the NFC’s overall #1 seed and have just 12 losses total. At 2-7, the Falcons are on pace for 12 losses in 2013 alone.
27
29
Houston Texans
2-7
Prior to the 2013 season, many experts had a Falcons Texans Super Bowl. 10 weeks later, the two teams have 4 wins combined.
28
30
Minnesota Vikings
2-7
The Vikings look better with Ponder. They had life against the Cowboys and then they beat the Redskins scoring 34 points.
30
31
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1-8
They looked like a legitimate NFL team on Monday Night against the Dolphins…which isn’t saying much.
31
32
Jaguars
1-8
Only 214 total yards on offense, but thanks to a safety and a defensive TD (9 points), the Jaguars will stay out of the record books.
32
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