Russakoff Rules
NFL Power Rankings: Week 8
By Lee Russakoff
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:06:34 GMT
I’m in NYC covering the World Series (read: partying with Jay-Z). So the rankings will be short and sweet this week. I promise to make it up to you next week by bringing some extra funny.1. New Orleans Saints (7-0 LW 1) Mike Bell, Pierre Thomas, Reggie Bush … please make up your mind, Sean. Fantasy owners can’t take this anymore.
2. Indianapolis Colts (7-0 LW 2) Joseph Addai threw a TD pass, Peyton Manning did not. Did someone say QB controversy?
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2 LW 4) Mike Wallace can fly … you would have never guessed it from his work on “60 Minutes.”
4. New England Patriots (5-2 LW 5) Rumor has it the Atlantic Ocean got handsomer just by being privileged enough to have Tom Brady fly over it twice in one week.
5. Minnesota Vikings (7-1 LW 7) Boo him all you want Packers fans. He beat you twice, and he’s 7-1. And he wears Levis, and takes Prilosec and has a boogie named after him.
6. Denver Broncos (6-1 LW 3) If you would have told me in the preseason that the Broncos’ first loss wouldn’t be until November, I’d have assumed you were an escapee from the insane asylum.
7. Cincinnati Bengals (5-2 LW 6) If Cincy can just manage a split in its next two (Baltimore, @Pittsburgh) the playoffs are a virtual lock.
8. Dallas Cowboys (5-2 LW 9) Where did all the Romo detractors go? A loss to Philly will surely bring them out of the woodwork … it’s time to admit this team lives and dies with its defense, not its QB.
9. Baltimore Ravens (4-3 LW 13) Bengals, Colts, Steelers, Packers. I think we’ll know exactly who the Ravens
are after the next five weeks.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (5-2 LW 15) If a good defense takes DeSean Jackson away, who on this team makes plays?
11. Houston Texans (5-3 LW 16) The old team from Houston loses that game to the Bills. The new one puts up 22 in the fourth. It’s about time.
12. New York Giants (5-3 LW 8) How the mighty have fallen. The G-Men have gone through a ton of defensive injuries … but as Eli goes, this team goes. And Eli was a hot mess Sunday.
13. Miami Dolphins (3-4 LW 17) AFC East beware. This is a good team. Even if you shut down Ronnie Brown, the Wildcat and the Fins’ offense, Miami can find a way to win.
14. Atlanta Falcons (4-3 LW 12) Matt Ryan has lost @NE, @DAL and @NO. All are tough places to play, but eventually the soph has to start winning big games.
15. Green Bay Packers (4-3 LW 10) Well, at least Aaron Rodgers fought back. That might seem more important had No. 4 not started the season 7-0.
16. San Diego Chargers (4-3 LW 18) I still won’t buy in, no matter how many times you beat the Raiders.
17. Chicago Bears (4-3 LW 19) If the Browns are beating the pulp out of Jay Cutler, the postseason may not be as close as it seems to be.
18. Arizona Cardinals (4-3 LW 11) I’d love to blame the Super Bowl runner-up curse, but honestly I just think this team isn’t that good.
19. New York Jets (4-4 LW 14) Remember when Rex Ryan was a genius? Maybe he’s just a really good defensive coach who needs some time to de-Mangenius this team.
20. Carolina Panthers (3-4 LW 26) Hallelujah. Steve Smith scored a TD. Who would have thought that guy could make plays? Time for A.J. Feeley yet?
21. San Francisco 49ers (3-4 LW 20) Good NFL teams finish off top-tier squads when they have them on the ropes. Mike Singletary’s crew failed to do that.
22. Buffalo Bills (3-5 LW 21) So that settles it. Great skills players + a mediocre offensive line = a below-average team.
23. Seattle Seahawks (2-5 LW 22) If the line could give Matt Hasselbeck some time, the Seahawks could make some noise in the NFC West. It’s not too late. The division has no world beaters.
24. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-4 LW 23) OK, MJD can literally score from anywhere on the field. Got any other players?
25. Oakland Raiders (2-6 LW 25) I don’t care what the Napa D.A. says, Tom Cable is a hot mess. I don’t know about you, but I’d be afraid to turn my back on him in a defensive meeting.
26. Washington Redskins (2-5 LW 27) Daniel Snyder recognizes that the Skins are embarrassing the entire District right now. I just want to know, what took him so long to figure it out?
27. Tennessee Titans (1-6 LW 30) After all that Vince Young–Kerry Collins debate, the only starter that mattered was Chris Johnson.
28. Detroit Lions (1-6 LW 24) Favored for the first time in years and your offense fails to show up? It’s not like the Lions can afford to ignore winnable weeks.
29. Kansas City Chiefs (1-6 LW 28) I’m confused. Why are the Chiefs making deals with Larry Johnson. Didn’t he just publicly deface your head coach? Isn’t he a below-average runner this year? So why the sycophantry?
30. St. Louis Rams (1-7 LW 32) When your lone win comes against a team that went winless just a year ago, it’s a bit harder to celebrate.
31. Cleveland Browns (1-7 LW 29) Maybe this is George Kokinis’ fault. But something tells me his ouster isn’t the secret sauce for NFL success.
32. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0-7 LW 31) Congrats, Tampa. You’re the last winless team left. And I must say, looking at your schedule, another ’08 Lions season is a definite possibility.
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Email me at russakoffrules@comcast.net; follow me on Twitter at twitter.com/russakoffrules.
The opinions expressed are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Comcast.
Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 11-04-2009 10:07 AM
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I remember when Rex Ryan was a genius in this blog.Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:12:45 GMT | Erk
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The Skins are 2-5. Is Jim Zorn on thin ice? It would seem so. Zorn is one of several coaches--along with the Bucs' Raheem Morris, the Browns' Eric Mangini, and Tom Cable of the "Faiders"--who are in over their heads. What were the teams' owners thinking when they hired those guys?Message Edited by KenMan on 11-04-2009 10:36 PM
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:44:13 GMT | KenMan
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Poor San Diego - all that talent being led around by someone who continues to prove they cannot coach. I wrote in about this last year, Russ, and you responded and have continued to point out how Norv should not be coaching this team. Great at being a coordinator - stick with what you are great at. What - are the owners of this team waiting til all the good players leave for other teams or just get too old to play. There are great coaches out there - are the owners of this team really okay with going from 14-2 to 8-8? Is that progress?And, for just 1 week, could we please not hear how Tom Brady is the direct blood line to Joe Montana and Jesus Christ. Sorry, I know every announcer (when they aren't trying to lay hands on Tom), New Englander and reporter will disagree with me, but I don't put him in the same sentence with Joe Montana, Brett Farve, Dan Marino, John Elway, etc. Why? I'm a Steelers fan and I don't think Bradshaw was a great quarterback. Same thing here - a better than average quarterback surrounded by an incredible pool of talent. Plug in any other better than average quarterback, or even average to poor (see last year) and you still get a team that is dangerous. Go ahead and talk about the rings - I seem to recall it was not Tom Brady that got them to the first superbowl they won, but Drew Bledsoe. Did Tom come in and win the season for them when Drew got injured. Sure - and that's my point - plug anyone into this team and they can win. But all I hear about is how he wins them games. No - the TEAM around him wins them games. He just contributes.
Tell you what, send him right now to St. Louis or Detroit, etc and see if he helps turn those teams around. Or will he just sit on the sidelines and throw another fit when someone bumps him because he doesn't have that great line protecting him. Personally, if I played on the team with him - I'd be insulted he gets all the hype while everyone else on that team gets dumped into the role of 'disciple'.
Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:52:57 GMT | Kahluabulldog
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Ok this may be a little petty - but - Brett Favre wears Wranglers not Levis. :-)Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:53:25 GMT | PiksburghGirl
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Yeah, I was going to say the same thing. :)Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:12:27 GMT | susieQ28
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Don't be hating on Tom Brady. His 3 Super Bowl wins are nothing to sneeze at. Also, in 2007 he had the second highest quarterback rating off all time. He's starting to return to form after his injury, ie 11 touchdown passes and more than 900 passing yards in his past three games. The guy is no slouch.Wed, 04 Nov 2009 19:29:04 GMT | Erk
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Lee, your rankings are looking a little closer to reality this week. Drop Dolphins to 16 and give some more credit to Atlanta, they are way too low. My prediction about the Broncos was correct and and a bit of a blowout at that!Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:23:45 GMT | 1st bull run
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Phillies win tonight, force game seven!!!!Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:26:48 GMT | 1st bull run
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Mr. Russakoff-Favre wears Wrangler and does commercials for them. Don't want Brett gunnin for you and taking you down as well now do you?? Of course our Steelers broguht him back to Earth.....Thu, 05 Nov 2009 00:49:43 GMT | cds8989
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Kahluabulldog, why aren't you bashing San Diego's defense? Norv can't take all the blame for the Chargers' mediocrity. The Bolts let a great defensive coach, Wade Phillips, get away to Dallas, and they haven't been the same since. Ron Rivera's one claim to fame was being Wilber Marshall's backup on the Bears' Super Bowl 20 title team. And even the coach can't take the blame if the players can't tackle. Also, if great players leave San Diego via free agency, that can be traced mainly to Charger boss Dean Spanos and GM A.J. Smith, not the Chargers' coaching staff. A.J. is known for being a tightwad, and players don't appreciate that. And being a Bronco fan, I gotta admire how San Diego plays. Before this season the Chargers slaughtered Denver in San Diego three years in a row. They had a sound game plan and took advantage of just about every Denver turnover.Thu, 05 Nov 2009 05:02:28 GMT | KenMan
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Kahlua,Good quarterbacks win games; great quarterbacks win superbowls. Bledsoe could never do it, and if he never got hurt in the 2nd game of the season, the Pats would still be waiting for their first championship. Best thing to ever happen to the Pats was when he went down.
Maybe plug almost any QB into the NE offense and they can win a game, but you can't put anyone behind the NE O-line and win a superbowl (let alone 3). Ask Bledsoe and Cassell.
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:12:50 GMT | rizzo
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I think that the Vikings should have been in the #3 spot on your list. The vikes have been playing good football all season long against some teams that tried to stomp their guts out. Love or hate him, Favre has been a journeyman QB for years. Now he has a good run game to compliment his pass. As for the wounded Seahawks, they are an offensive line away from a championship. The sadf thing is that when they finally get one Hasslebeck will be gone.Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:46:11 GMT | brihammer
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After 7 games, Green Bays QB Aaron Rogers has been sacked 31 times, leading the NFL in time being sacked.15 of those sacks came in the two games against the Minnesota Vikings. Now it is reported that Aaron Roger, has two sprained feet, he is lucky his rib cage is not sprained from the hit he took from DT Pat Williams in last Sunday's Game at Green Bay!
As for the rest of the season, I see clear sailing for the Minnesota Vikings, except for the Chicago Bears game at Chicago, on Dec 29th Monday Night, all the Vikings Games are indoors or in Southern Climates.
Here are my predictions for how the final standing will be for the NFC (Black & Blue) North
MINNESOTA VIKINGS 15-1 6-0
GREEN BAY PACKERS 8-8 3-3
CHICAGO BEARS 6-10 3-3
DETROIT LIONS 1-15 0-6
Thu, 05 Nov 2009 19:29:23 GMT | parnelli
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Who has the single season TD record? Who is the only QB to guide his team to a perfect 16-0 regular season? Who helped end at least four Steeler's season playoff hopes since 2002? Who just set a single quarter TD record and tied the single half TD record? Who has never missed the playoffs in his entire NFL career? Who comes into a season after an ACL tear without his offensive coordinator and guides his team to a 5-2 record and a certain playoff spot? Tom Brady is a top 5 all time NFL QB with the stats to back it up.BTW **bleep**head- Drew Bledsoe took the Pats to their 1st superbowl and lost it to the Packers. Get your facts straight. You are obviously jealous that Big Ben never gets mentioned in the same breath as Joe Montana. There's a reason. He's an average QB at best. He's got a big arm that's it. The funny thing is, if Tom Brady were the QB for the Steelers, you'd probably be talking **bleep** about Ben R instead. You're a chump and you just can't stand that in addition to being one of the greatest QB's ever, Tom Brady also gets to bang a supermodel. Get over it, because I'd put money on the Pats getting at least one more SB win with Tom Brady as QB.
Sun, 08 Nov 2009 17:23:11 GMT | a3pacnw