Last week: 28 (+0)
Record: 2-7
On bye.
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2012 NFL Power Rankings
Carolina Panthers: Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#29)
Last week: 29 (+0)
Record: 2-7
Last week’s loss was only their 2nd loss by more than a touchdown all year. They aren’t to be overlooked the rest of the way. Cam Newton is obviously having a major sophomore slump, but for all of their offensive struggles, they’ve been noticeably improved defensively this year. They’re allowing 3 points per game fewer than they were last year and even more impressive is that they’re doing this with Jon Beason and Chris Gamble out.
In fact, since week 6, their first game without those two, they’re allowing just 21.4 points per game, thanks to guys like Luke Kuechly and Greg Hardy breaking out. The rookie Kuechly has really improved over the last few weeks, probably because he moved back to his collegiate position of middle linebacker from the outside, and is now a defensive player of the year candidate. It’ll be interesting to see if his emergence in the middle leads to Jon Beason (owed 6.5 million in 2013) getting cut. The man who gave him that ill advised massive contract, ex-GM Marty Hurney, has already been fired and all of his guaranteed money has been paid.
Studs
C Geoff Hangartner: Did not allow a pressure on 51 pass block snaps, run blocked for 2 yards on 2 attempts
RG Jeff Byers: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 51 pass block snaps, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts
TE Greg Olsen: Caught 9 passes for 102 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 attempts on 40 pass snaps, 5.6 YAC per catch, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 4 pass block snaps
LE Charles Johnson: 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 2 quarterback hurries on 34 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 pass deflection
MLB Luke Kuechly: 8 solo tackles, 3 assists, 5 stops, caught 2 passes for 38 yards on 5 attempts, 1 pass deflection
FS Sherrod Martin: Allowed 2 catches for 3 yards on 2 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops
Duds
QB Cam Newton: 21 of 36 for 241 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, 1 throw away, 4 hit as thrown, 1 batted pass, 1 drop, pressured on 18 of 45 drop backs (7 sacks, 1 scramble, 2 of 10, 1 interception, 4 hit as thrown, 1 throw away)
LG Amini Silatolu: Allowed 1 sack and 3 quarterback hurries on 46 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 4 yards on 4 attempts
RT Byron Bell: Allowed 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, and 1 quarterback hurry on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 1 yard on 4 attempts
RB Jonathan Stewart: Rushed for 31 yards (20 after contact) on 8 attempts, 1 broken tackle, 1 fumble, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 6 pass block snaps, caught 2 passes for 23 yards on 2 attempts
WR Brandon LaFell: Caught 4 passes for 29 yards on 5 attempts on 50 pass snaps, 6.5 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to, 1 penalty
WR Steve Smith: Caught 1 pass for 19 yards on 4 attempts on 39 pass snaps, 5.0 YAC per catch
WR Louis Murphy: Did not catch a pass on 2 attempts on 26 pass snaps, 1 penalty
CB Captain Munnerlyn: Allowed 6 catches for 51 yards on 7 attempts, 1 penalty, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle, 3 punt returns for 10 yards
CB Josh Thomas: Allowed 5 catches for 97 yards on 6 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop
LOLB Thomas Davis: Allowed 4 catches for 25 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop, 2 missed tackle
DT Dwan Edwards: Did not record a pressure on 28 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops
RE Frank Alexander: 1 quarterback hurry on 25 pass rush snaps, no tackles
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Oakland Raiders: Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#30)
Last week: 30 (+0)
Record: 3-6
The Raiders surrendered the biggest points total of the year last week in Baltimore and it was just as bad as it sounded. They allowed two special teams touchdowns (one off a fake field goal, one off a kick return) and blew two separate 4th downs thanks to botched quarterback/center exchanges. By the way, I don’t disagree with the Ravens decision to run up the score and go for the fake field goal. One, the Raiders had it coming to them after taunting the Ravens down by close to 30 points on the previous play. Two, I’ve always said, if you don’t want to get the score run up on you, don’t suck. It’s not unsportsmanlike. In fact, it’s more unsportsmanlike to cry because you can’t stop the other team. Three, the Ravens haven’t had a commanding win like that since week 1 so they needed it for morale.
Studs
LT Jared Veldheer: Did not allow a pressure on 49 pass block snaps, run blocked for 4 yards on 1 attempt
LG Cooper Carlisle: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 49 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards on 3 attempts
C Stefen Wisniewski: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 49 pass block snaps, run blocked for 28 yards on 10 attempts, 1 penalty
CB Michael Huff: Allowed 3 catches for 65 yards on 7 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 1 interception, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist
P Shane Lechler: 5 punts for 274 yards, 1 inside 20, 4 returns for 36 yards, 47.6 net yards per punt
Duds
RT Willie Smith: Allowed 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 2 quarterback hurries on 42 pass block snaps
ROLB Phillip Wheeler: Allowed 6 catches for 88 yards on 6 attempts, 2 penalties, 6 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops
LOLB Miles Burris: 3 solo tackles, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle, 1 quarterback hit on 12 blitzes, allowed 5 catches for 63 yards on 5 attempts
FS Matt Giordano: Allowed 3 catches for 51 yards and 2 touchdown on 5 attempts, 3 solo tackles, 1 missed tackle
DT Tommy Kelly: 1 quarterback hurry on 29 pass rush snaps, no tackles
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Kansas City Chiefs: Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#31)
Last week: 31 (+0)
Record: 1-8
I’ve said all along that the Chiefs could be competitive and even win some games if they could avoid losing the turnover battle. They did exactly that last week and took Pittsburgh to overtime, ironically losing on a turnover, their only of the game. They played a very similar game to the Steelers and would have won if not for some costly special teams blunders and penalties, including one for excessive celebration on a touchdown that eventually got overturned and thus never really happened. Still, if they can avoid losing the turnover battle in a few of their games going forward, they can win at least one, which is why they aren’t dead last.
Studs
RB Jamaal Charles: Rushed for 100 yards (43 after contact) and a touchdown on 23 attempts, 1 broken tackle
RG Jon Asamoah: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 31 pass block snaps, run blocked for 31 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts
CB Brandon Flowers: Allowed 3 catches for 14 yards and a touchdown on 6 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 stop
LOLB Justin Houston: 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 3 quarterback hurries on 20 pass rush snaps, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops
MLB Derrick Johnson: 11 solo tackles, 1 assist, 9 stops, allowed 4 catches for 28 yards on 4 attempts
ROLB Tamba Hali: 1 sack and 3 quarterback hits on 28 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
Duds
TE Steve Maneri: Was not thrown to on 5 pass snaps, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 5 pass block snaps, 1 penalty
WR Dexter McCluster: Caught 2 passes for 18 yards on 5 attempts on 22 pass snaps, 5.0 YAC per catch, 2 drops
LE Tyson Jackson: Did not record a pressure on 20 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops
K Ryan Succop: 3 kickoffs, 1 touchback, 63.7 yards per kickoff, 27.3 opponent’s average starting distance, 2/3 FG (22, 46, missed from 33)
RB Shaun Draughn: 2 kickoff returns for 29 yards, 1 fumble
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Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#32)
Last week: 32 (+0)
Record: 1-8
Still the worst team in the NFL. I think the Chiefs are more likely than they are to win another game the rest of the way. They rank dead last in both yards per play differential and rate of sustaining drives differential. In yards per play differential, they are at -1.1. No one else is worse than -0.9. In rate of sustaining drives they are -14.8%, no one else is worse than -9.5%.
The Chiefs have much bigger turnover issues than they do. For all of his faults, Blaine Gabbert’s overly conservative style of play is not one that causes him to turn the ball over a ton. However, turnovers are much more inconsistent. If the Chiefs can avoid losing the turnover battle, they can be competitive, whereas the Jaguars have avoided losing the turnover battle (just -3 on the season) and have not been close to being competitive, as they have a league worst -119 points differential. The Chiefs almost knocked off the Steelers last week because they were able to avoid losing the turnover battle. If they happens a couple more times this year, they’ll win a game.
Studs
C Brad Meester: Did not allow a pressure on 59 pass block snaps, run blocked for 11 yards on 4 attempts
SS Dawan Landry: Allowed 2 catches for 7 yards on 3 attempts, 1 interception, 1 penalty, 7 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops, 1 missed tackle
LE Austen Lane: 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries on 15 pass rush snaps, 1 stop
DT Tyson Alualu: 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 1 quarterback hurry on 21 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops
RE Jeremy Mincey: 2 quarterback hits and 2 quarterback hurries on 23 pass rush snaps, 4 solo tackles, 2 stops
P Bryan Anger: 5 punts for 236 yards, 1 inside 20, 1 return for 12 yards, 44.8 net yards per punt
Duds
RB Rashad Jennings: Rushed for 27 yards (18 yards after contact) on 11 attempts, 1 broken tackle, did not catch a pass on 1 attempt
LG Mike Brewster: Allowed 4 quarterback hurries on 59 pass block snaps, 2 penalties, run blocked for 1 yard on 1 attempt
RT Cameron Bradfield: Allowed 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 2 quarterback hurries on 59 pass block snaps, 2 penalties
WR Justin Blackmon: Caught 3 passes for 25 yards on 5 attempts on 58 pass snaps, 2.3 YAC per catch, 1 penalty, allowed 1 sack on 1 pass block snap
CB Aaron Ross: Allowed 5 catches for 108 yards on 9 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 3 solo tackles
DT Terrence Knighton: 1 quarterback hurry on 14 pass rush snaps, 1 penalty, no tackles
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Chicago Bears: Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (#1)
Last week: 3 (+2)
Record: 7-1
Back to this. I really broke my own rule by overreacting to the Bears’ near lose to the lowly Panthers and dropping them down even though I’ve never been sold on Atlanta. The Bears’ huge blowout win helped me see the light. Jay Cutler is now 12-1 in his last 13 games, which would be 12 in a row if you exclude their Thursday Night loss in Green Bay. Obviously, you can’t ignore that game, but it was a while ago, it was on short rest, and it was on the road against a tough opponent, so I don’t put much stock into it.
They run the ball well. They play incredible defense, even though you can’t expect them to continue to score defensively at this rate the rest of the way because no one ever has. With guys like Julius Peppers, Henry Melton, Lance Briggs, Brian Urlacher, Charles Tillman, Tim Jennings, and Major Wright, they have so many talented defensive players. Offensively, they can run the ball, Jay Cutler is playing well. The only issue is the offensive line, but Jay Cutler is so hard to sack. I think they’ll continue to be fine. However, with two games against Houston and San Francisco in the next 2 weeks, we’ll get an answer real soon.
Studs
RB Matt Forte: Rushed for 103 yards (61 yards after contact) and a touchdown on 12 carries, 2 broken tackles, caught 2 passes for 45 yards on 2 attempts
C Roberto Garza: Didn’t allow a pressure on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 27 yards on 6 attempts
RG Lance Louis: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 17 yards on 3 attempts
WR Brandon Marshall: Caught 9 passes for 122 yards on 9 attempts, 2.3 YAC per catch, 3 drops
QB Jay Cutler: 19 of 26 for 229 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 throw aways, 1 batted pass, 114.1 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 13 of 30 drop backs (3 sacks, 1 scramble, 4 of 9, 2 touchdowns, 2 throw away)
CB Charles Tillman: Allowed 8 catches for 71 yards on 10 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 9 solo tackles, 3 stops
MLB Brian Urlacher: Allowed 2 catches for 26 yards on 5 attempts, 1 interception, 7 solo tackles, 4 stops, 1 quarterback hurry on 5 blitzes
K Robbie Gould: 10 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks, 70.4 yards per kickoff, 18.7 opponent’s average starting position, 3/3 FG (22, 25, 40)
Duds
TE Kellen Davis: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 1 quarterback hurry on 8 pass block snaps, didn’t catch a pass on 24 pass snaps
RT Gabe Carimi: Allowed 2 quarterback hits and 2 quarterback hurries on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 5 yards on 2 attempts
LT J’Marcus Webb: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 32 pass block snaps, 2 penalties, run blocked for -1 yards on 3 attempts
RE Julius Peppers: Did not record a pressure on 23 pass rush snaps, no tackles
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Houston Texans: Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (#2)
Last week: 2 (+0)
The Texans didn’t put much effort into their game against the Bills, though they still won by 12, so I’m not going to put much effort into this write up. They’ll win the AFC’s top seed with ease regardless of what happens. They really only play 2 teams with close to their talent level the rest of the way, Chicago (this week) and New England, and even if they lose both, only the banged up Ravens, who they blew out and who they hold the tiebreaker with, have less than 3 losses in the AFC, while Houston only has 1. Those two games will just be bench marks games for them to prove themselves because they got blown out by the Packers at home, the only really tough opponent they had (keep in mind, Denver hadn’t hit their stride yet when they played and I don’t count Baltimore).
Studs
QB Matt Schaub: 19 of 27 for 268 yards and 2 touchdowns, 1 throw away, 105.9 adjusted QB rating, pressured 7 on 29 drop backs (2 sacks, 2 of 5, 1 throw away)
WR Andre Johnson: Caught 8 passes for 118 yards on 10 attempts on 31 pass snaps, 6.4 YAC per catch
TE Owen Daniels: Caught 4 passes for 62 yards and a touchdown on 7 attempts on 25 pass snaps, 4.0 YAC per catch
LE JJ Watt: 1 sack and 5 quarterback hurries on 44 pass rush snaps, 4 solo tackles, 5 stops
CB Johnathan Joseph: Allowed 5 catches for 48 yards on 9 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 4 solo tackles, 1 stop
P Donnie Jones: 5 punts for 247 yards, 0 inside 20, 4 returns for 37 yards, 42.0 net yards per punt
Duds
C Chris Myers: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 1 quarterback pressure on 31 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 46 yards on 13 attempts
MLB Tim Dobbins: Allowed 8 catches for 97 yards on 9 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle
RE Antonio Smith: 2 quarterback hurries on 39 pass rush snaps, 1 penalty, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop
K Shayne Graham: 4 kickoff, 0 touchbacks, 51.5 yards per kickoff, 26.5 opponent’s average starting position, 0/1 FG
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Atlanta Falcons: Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (#3)
Last week: 1 (-2)
Record: 8-0
The Falcons are an undefeated 8-0, but they have not played a tough schedule (it doesn’t really get harder) and they’ve won 5 of their 8 games by a touchdown or less, including 4 at home. They’ve beaten everyone on their schedule and they’ve been able to eke out victories, but at the end of the day, if I’m an AFC team, I’m way more scared of the Bears than the Falcons. I don’t like the Falcons to go 16-0 either even against a week schedule. At least one of these inferior teams that they keep barely beaten will trip them up one of these weeks. It could easily be the Saints in New Orleans this Sunday.
Studs
QB Matt Ryan: 24 of 34 for 342 yards, 2 drops, 98.0 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 16 of 38 drop backs (3 sacks, 1 scramble, 9 of 12)
WR Roddy White: Caught 7 passes for 118 yards on 10 attempts on 42 pass snaps, 6.0 YAC per catch
WR Julio Jones: Caught 5 passes for 129 yards on 6 attempts on 42 pass snaps, 11.0 YAC per catch
DT Jonathan Babineaux: 1 sack and 3 quarterback hurries on 35 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops, 1 missed tackle
LE Kroy Biermann: 3 quarterback hurries on 18 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops
Duds
LT Sam Baker: Allowed 1 sack and 4 quarterback hurries on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 4 yards on 2 attempts
FB Lousaka Polite: Didn’t catch a pass on 1 attempt on 4 pass snaps, 1 drop, allowed 1 sack on 2 pass block snaps
CB Dunta Robinson: Allowed 5 catches for 108 yards on 7 attempts, 2 penalties, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist
ROLB Stephen Nicholas: 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 2 missed tackles, allowed 6 catches for 83 yards on 7 attempts, 1 quarterback hit on 7 blitzes
RE John Abraham: 1 quarterback hurry on 27 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 1 stop
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New England Patriots: Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (#4)
Last week: 4 (+0)
Record: 5-3
On bye.
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Denver Broncos: Week 10 NFL Power Rankings (#5)
Last week: 5 (+0)
Record: 5-3
The Broncos sit at 5-3 and rank 2nd in yards per play differential and 9th in rate of sustaining drives differential with momentum on their side and they’ve done this despite one of the toughest schedules in the league thus far. From this point on, they have one of the league’s easiest schedules, with games against Tampa Bay, Carolina, San Diego, Oakland, Baltimore, Cleveland, and two against Kansas City. They could challenge the Patriots’ for the 2nd seed in the AFC, but the Patriots have the tiebreaker, so they have the advantage there. That would leave Peyton Manning the Broncos in the 3rd seed and possibly facing his replacement Andrew Luck and his greatest rival Tom Brady in the first 2 rounds of the playoffs.
Studs
QB Peyton Manning: 27 of 35 for 291 yards, 3 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, 4 drops, 108.0 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 3 of 35 drop backs (2 of 3, 1 interception)
C Dan Koppen: Didn’t allow a pressure on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 34 yards on 7 attempts
RT Orlando Franklin: Didn’t allow a pressure on 37 pass block snaps
RG Chris Kuper: Didn’t allow a pressure on 29 pass block snaps, run blocked for 15 yards on 6 attempts
LOLB Wesley Woodyard: Allowed 6 catches for 29 yards on 8 attempts, 10 solo tackles, 3 assists, 4 stops, 1 missed tackle
CB Chris Harris: Allowed 2 catches for 12 yards on 6 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 6 solo tackles, 3 stops, 2 missed tackles
CB Tony Carter: Allowed 1 catch for 17 yards on 4 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 1 solo tackle
ROLB Von Miller: 3 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, 2 quarterback hurries, 2 solo tackles, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle
Duds
RB Willis McGahee: Rushed for 66 yards (51 after contact) on 23 carries, 1 broken tackle, caught 1 pass for 4 yards on 1 attempt
SS Mike Adams: Allowed 5 catches for 49 yards on 5 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 stop, 2 missed tackles
LE Derek Wolfe: 1 quarterback hurry on 47 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop
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