Last week: 3 (+0)
Record: 5-2
On bye.
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Month: October 2013
New England Patriots: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#4)
Last week: 4 (+0)
Record: 5-2
The call that might have cost the Patriots a win was definitely questionable considering the number of times it wasn’t called this season and the stakes in those circumstances. However, it was the right call by the new rule. Bill Belichick took the blame for not understanding the rule, but you can’t blame him considering the Patriots did the same thing the week before and the refs didn’t care. Even the NFL’s official website didn’t have the rule right and had to edit the text of an article referring to the rule after Belichick’s press conference.
Week 7 Studs
LG Logan Mankins
TE Rob Gronkowski
DT Joe Vellano
MLB Brandon Spikes
FS Devin McCourty
Week 7 Duds
QB Tom Brady
RG Dan Connolly
C Ryan Wendell
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San Francisco 49ers: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#5)
Last week: 5 (+0)
Record: 5-2
Colin Kaepernick had probably his best game since week 1 this week, completing 13 of 21 for 199 yards, while rushing for 68 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts, against a Tennessee defense that has been solid all season. It’s a positive sign going forward for the 49ers, who have won 4 straight, thanks largely to a re-emphasis on the run game. Now they go to London to play the Jaguars before a bye. It’s hard to believe there was a time people were worried about them because they lost 2 of 3 games to top-10 caliber teams.
Week 7 Studs
WR Anquan Boldin
LG Mike Iupati
CB Tramaine Brock
Week 7 Duds
RG Alex Boone
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Kansas City Chiefs: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#6)
Last week: 7 (+1)
Record: 7-0
I am aware the Chiefs are the only team in the NFL who has not lost a game. If you want to see rankings were they are #1, go to espn.com/nfl/standings. I’m not interested in parroting back the standings. I’m trying to evaluate each team’s talent level and where they will end up at the end of the season. The Chiefs haven’t played anyone that good. The two toughest teams they’ve faced might be Dallas and Houston and they beat them by a point each in Kansas City. A few other top level teams haven’t played any either, but the Chiefs are not designed to beat top level teams. They are designed to win conservative games against average or worse opponents. Their turnover margin, the biggest reason why they are winning, will not continue to be this impressive against tougher opponents.
Week 7 Studs
RE Mike DeVito
Week 7 Duds
FB Anthony Sherman
RT Eric Fisher
TE Anthony Fasano
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Indianapolis Colts: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#7)
Last week: 8 (-1)
Record: 5-2
The Colts have beaten 3 of the top-5 teams on these Power Rankings, a group of teams that has lost a combined 7 games. However, they have also lost to San Diego and Miami and almost lost to Oakland. Furthermore, they also lost their top receiving threat Reggie Wayne for the season with a torn ACL. They’re a very good team, but you have to look at the whole story with them. Not just that they’ve beaten 3 very good teams.
Week 7 Studs
RT Gosder Cherilus
ROLB Robert Mathis
CB Vontae Davis
Week 7 Duds
FB Stanley Havili
CB Darius Butler
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Green Bay Packers: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#8)
Last week: 6 (-2)
Record: 4-2
The Packers blew out the Browns this week despite all of their injuries, but they’ve been dominant at home over the past few seasons, possibly even more than even the Seahawks. They are 22-8 ATS at home since 2010 and 27-3 straight up, outscoring opponents by an average 13.9 points per game. They’ll need to prove they can win on the road going forward, though their next road test is in Minnesota, so it’s not much of a test.
Week 7 Studs
CB Davon House
SS Morgan Burnett
Week 7 Duds
RT Don Barclay
TE Andrew Quarless
LOLB Mike Neal
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Cincinnati Bengals: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#9)
Last week: 10 (+1)
Record: 5-2
The Bengals’ needed to prove themselves on the road after losing in Cleveland and Chicago and almost losing in Buffalo. They did that with a close win in Detroit this week. They’ll need to avoid a letdown game, however. After beating Green Bay, they lost to Cleveland. After beating New England, they went to overtime in Buffalo. They’ll need to avoid losing to the Jets this week.
Week 7 Studs
QB Andy Dalton
WR AJ Green
RE Michael Johnson
LE Carlos Dunlap
Week 7 Duds
LG Clint Boling
RG Kevin Zeitler
TE Jermaine Gresham
CB Terence Newman
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Detroit Lions: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#10)
Last week: 9 (-1)
Record: 4-3
I said before the game that the Lions and Bengals were as evenly matched as two teams could be and the Bengals won by a field goal. Still, the Lions have the inside track for a playoff spot in the NFC. They still have an explosive offense that moves the chains at a 78% rate and a decent defense that moves the chains at a 75% rate.
Week 7 Studs
WR Calvin Johnson
DT Ndamukong Suh
Week 7 Duds
RG Larry Warford
TE Brandon Pettigrew
RE Ezekiel Ansah
LE Willie Young
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Dallas Cowboys: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#11)
Last week: 11 (+0)
Record: 4-3
I don’t know where that defensive effort came from. The Cowboys, who were getting destroyed defensively all season, gave up just 3 points to a previously pretty solid Philadelphia offense on the road, despite missing DeMarcus Ware. They forced the Eagles’ quarterback combination of Nick Foles and Matt Barkley to 22 of 49 for 194 yards and 3 picks. I’m very skeptical they can maintain this level of play without Ware, but he could be back this week. His return, along with DeMarco Murray’s return, will be key for this team’s chances of not just winning, but running away with the division.
Week 7 Studs
TE Jason Witten
LE George Selvie
DT Jason Hatcher
MLB Sean Lee
CB Brandon Carr
FS Barry Church
Week 7 Duds
RT Doug Free
C Travis Frederick
RE Jason Vega
DT Jason Hatcher
SS JJ Wilcox
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Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#12)
Last week: 15 (-3)
Record: 3-3
The Panthers are much better than their record. Only 4 teams (Denver, Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle) have better point differentials than the Panthers, who are 2nd in the NFL to only Kansas City in points per game allowed. They are moving the chains at an 80% rate, as opposed to 71% for their opponents, a differential is 2nd best in the NFL. They are a few plays away from being 5-1. They have 3 losses, but they are only a half game out of a playoff spot in the NFC and tied in the loss column. If they can avoid more close losses (easier said than done for this team), they could easily be a playoff team.
Week 7 Studs
QB Cam Newton
LG Travelle Wharton
DT Star Lotulelei
Week 7 Duds
RG Chris Scott
C Ryan Kalil
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