Month: November 2013

Denver Broncos: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#1)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Broncos, Uncategorized

Last week: 1 (+0)

Record: 9-2

The Broncos really slowed down since their incredible start offensively. In his first 5 games, Peyton Manning completed 150 of 196 (76.5%) for 1884 yards (9.61 YPA), 20 touchdowns, and 1 interception. However, in his past 6 games, Peyton Manning has completed 155 of 253 (61.3%) for 1838 yards (7.26 YPA), 16 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions. His numbers from his past 6 games aren’t bad by any stretch of the imagination, but he’s not otherworldly like he was to start the season. That’s not enough to knock the Broncos out of the top spot and I still believe they’re the one team that would beat any other team on a neutral field 51 times out of 100, but there’s not a lot of clarity at the top of the NFL. It’ll be a very interesting post-season.

Week 12 Studs

RG Louis Vasquez

C Manuel Ramirez

ROLB Von Miller

DT Kevin Vickerson

Week 12 Duds

TE Virgil Green

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

New Orleans Saints: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#3)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Saints, Uncategorized

Last week: 3 (+0)

Record: 9-2

Like Denver/New England could have been AFC Championship part 1 last week, Seattle/New Orleans could be NFC Championship part 1 this week. There are several reasons why. Of course, these are currently the two best teams in the NFC record wise, but both teams are also dominant at home. That means, if they get a top-2 seed and a first round bye, they are basically in the NFC Championship game, with a bye and a home game before that. Once there, home field advantage is going to be incredibly important because of how good these two teams are at home. In fact, if we assume the winner of this game gets the #1 seed, the winner of this game probably has a better chance than not of going all the way to the Super Bowl. This might be even bigger than the NFC Championship game because it could decide the NFC Championship game.

Week 12 Studs

RB Pierre Thomas

LG Ben Grubbs

LE Akiem Hicks

RE Cameron Jordan

Week 12 Duds

MLB Curtis Lofton

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

New England Patriots: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#4)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Patriots, Uncategorized

Last week: 4 (+0)

Record: 8-3

You could argue the Patriots had no business coming back from down 24-0 to beat the Broncos in overtime, but they also had no business being down 24-0. At the end of the day, the two teams were very even in first downs (28 to 27 Broncos), yardage (440 to 412 Patriots), takeaways (4 to 3 Patriots), failed 4th down (1 to 0 Broncos), and punts forced (8 to 6 Patriots). The Patriots played the Broncos very even and won the game. I still think the Broncos would win more often than not on a neutral field, but the Patriots have done a very good job reasserting their offensive dominance now that they have all of their weapons back from injury. They’re definitely in the mix.

Week 12 Studs

QB Tom Brady

WR Julian Edelman

LT Nate Solder

LG Logan Mankins

LE Rob Ninkovich

MLB Brandon Spikes

CB Logan Ryan

CB Kyle Arrington

Week 12 Duds

DT Chris Jones

DT Joe Vellano

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#5)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Panthers, Uncategorized

Last week: 5 (+0)

Record: 8-3

The Panthers’ near loss in Miami was by far their least impressive game since their loss to the Cardinals week 5. However, it’s understandable that they would have a letdown game after two huge wins. The fact that they still came out with a win on the road is pretty impressive. They’ll have to avoid another letdown game this week at home for Tampa Bay before they go to New Orleans next week. The Panthers still have a very good chance at 12 wins and an outside shot at winning the division and getting a first round bye.

Week 12 Studs

C Ryan Kalil

LE Charles Johnson

DT Kawaan Short

Week 12 Duds

QB Cam Newton

RG Nate Chandler

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

San Francisco 49ers: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#6)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, 49ers, Uncategorized

Last week: 6 (+0)

Record: 7-4

Colin Kaepernick has had his share of issues this season, but he’s played well against teams that currently have a .500 or worse record this season, completing 86 of 138 for 1290 yards, 10 touchdowns, and no interceptions, while rushing for 189 yards and 3 touchdowns on 38 carries in 6 games. They’ve won all 5 of those games by an average of 21.3 points per game. He and the 49ers will have another chance at a blowout this week against an overrated Rams team.

Week 12 Studs

QB Colin Kaepernick

C Jonathan Goodwin

RG Alex Boone

RE Justin Smith

ROLB Aldon Smith

CB Carlos Rogers

SS Donte Whitner

Week 12 Duds

None

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Kansas City Chiefs: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#7)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Chiefs, Uncategorized

Last week: 7 (+0)

Record: 9-2

There’s not a lot of shame in allowing 41 points in a game to the Chargers when you’re missing your top two pass rushers, especially considering the Chiefs were probably pretty distracted in between two games against Denver that would essentially decide the division regardless of what happened in the San Diego game. You could also argue the Chargers are a better offensive team than the Broncos. After all, they lead the NFL, moving the chains at over an 82% rate. They’ll have Tamba Hali back this week, which will help, and they’ll be more prepared for life without Justin Houston and more focused for their biggest game of the season. They should be able to keep Peyton Manning in check. After all, they held the Broncos to a season low 27 points two weeks ago and Peyton Manning has slowed since his hot start.

Week 12 Studs

LE Allen Bailey

CB Sean Smith

Week 12 Duds

ROLB Dezman Moses

CB Sean Smith

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Detroit Lions: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#8)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Lions, Uncategorized

Last week: 9 (-1)

Record: 7-5

Earlier this year, the Lions won a game despite losing the turnover battle by 4, something that had only happened 19 times prior since 1989. In that game, accumulating 623 yards of offense, as opposed to 268 for the Cowboys, only the 24th time since 1989 that a team won the yardage battle by that much. They again won the yardage battle by that much last week, outgaining the Packers 561 to 126, the 4th time a team had won the yardage battle by that much since 1989. They also won by 30, despite losing the turnover battle, the 15th time a team had done that since 1989. The Lions are now moving the chains at a 78% rate, as opposed to 73% for their opponents, a differential that is 6th in the NFL. They need to avoid turnovers, like everyone does, but they are a legitimate contender.

Week 12 Studs

LT Riley Reiff

RE Ezekiel Ansah

DT Ndamukong Suh

DT Nick Fairley

Week 12 Duds

LG Rob Sims

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Arizona Cardinals: 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings (#10)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 13 NFL Power Rankings, Cardinals, Uncategorized

Last week: 14 (+4)

Record: 7-4

The Cardinals would definitely be in the playoffs in the AFC, but they’re going to have a hard time getting in as a wild card in the NFC. The 49ers hold the tiebreaker and are the better team, while the Saints and Panthers will probably both get in and both could win 12 games. The Cardinals could end up with 10 wins. It wouldn’t surprise me. However, 11 or 12 wins could be the magic number for the 6th playoff spot in the NFC. If only they were in the NFC East. Is it too late to move them or have them change conferences?

Week 12 Studs

WR Michael Floyd

RE Calais Campbell

CB Jerraud Powers

CB Patrick Peterson

Week 12 Duds

LT Bradley Sowell

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]