2012 NFL Power Rankings

New York Jets: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#24)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Jets

Last week: 24 (-1)

Record: 3-5

I have no idea why they haven’t benched Mark Sanchez for Tim Tebow yet. Mark Sanchez is completing 53% of his passes. Only Brandon Weeden has a worse adjusted QB rating. The team is 3-5. They brought Tebow in to be an alternative for Sanchez if he struggled right? Well he’s struggling right now. What was the point of bringing him in if you’re not going to turn to him if the incumbent struggles? It couldn’t have been just to be a special teams decoy…right? Even if you don’t think Tebow can play quarterback, you have to agree with that. He did make a mistake by going to the Jets instead of the Jaguars. He’d be starting in Jacksonville right now.

Studs

RG Brandon Moore: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 62 pass block snaps, run blocked for 20 yards on 4 attempts

LG Matt Slauson: Did not allow pressure on 43 pass block snaps, run blocked for 7 yards on 3 carries

WR Clyde Gates: Caught 7 passes for 82 yards on 10 attempts on 31 pass snaps, 1.1 YAC per catch

CB Antonio Cromartie: Allowed 2 catches for 2 yards on 2 attempts, 1 penalty, 3 solo tackles, 1 stop

Duds

WR Jeremy Kerley: Caught 5 passes for 43 yards on 10 attempts on 56 pass snaps, 5.4 YAC per catch, 1 drop

WR Stephen Hill: Caught 2 passes for 29 yards on 7 attempts on 55 pass snaps, 4.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop

CB Kyle Wilson: Allowed 2 catches for 48 yards on 3 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 missed tackle

LE Mike DeVito: Did not record a pressure on 16 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop

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Tennessee Titans: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#25)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Titans

Last week: 25 (-3)

Record: 3-5

The Titans were overrated going into their overtime loss to the Colts last week. Despite their 3-4 record, they had the league’s worst points differential, winning 3 games by a combined 7 points and losing 4 by a combined 96 points. That’s continued into this week as they are now a league worst -95. They also rank 28th in yards per play differential and 31st in rate of sustaining drives differential. Their defense has been particularly bad. They’re one of 2 teams with an opponent’s rate of sustaining drives higher than 80% as they sit at 84.4%, meaning on any given set of downs, they allow a first down or a score 84.4% of the time. The Saints are next worst at 82.9%.

Studs

QB Matt Hasselbeck: 22 of 29 for 236 yards and a touchdown, 1 throw away, 3 drops, 115.8 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 8 of 32 drop backs (2 sacks, 1 scramble, 4 of 5, 1 throw away)

LT Mike Otto: Did not allow a pressure on 36 pass rush snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 7 yards on 3 attempts

LG Steve Hutchinson: Did not allow a pressure on 36 pass rush snaps, run blocked for 20 yards on 2 attempts

C Fernando Velasco: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 36 pass rush snaps, run blocked for 35 yards on 8 attempts

RT David Stewart: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 35 pass rush snaps, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts

CB Alterraun Verner: Allowed 7 catches for 39 yards on 7 attempts, 7 solo tackles, 1 assist, 5 stops

CB Jason McCourty: Allowed 2 catches for 24 yards on 5 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop

ROLB Akeem Ayers: 4 solo tackles, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle, 1 penalty, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 2 quarterback hurries on 9 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, was not thrown on

FS Michael Griffin: 6 solo tackles, 2 assist, 1 missed tackle, did not allow a completion on 2 attempts, 1 interception

LE Derrick Morgan: 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 7 quarterback hurries on 39 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 stop

RE Kamerion Wimbley: 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 6 quarterback hurries on 38 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops

Duds

CB Ryan Mouton: Allowed 7 catches for 94 yards and a touchdown on 7 attempts, 5 solo tackles, 1 stop

DT Jurrell Casey: Did not record a pressure on 32 pass rush snaps, no tackles

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Cleveland Browns: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#28)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Browns

Last week: 29 (+1)

Record: 2-6

The Browns remain better than their record. At 2-6, they rank 25th in the league in yards per play differential and 28th in rate of sustaining drives differential. They’ve only lost one game by more than a touchdown and that was against the Giants in New York in a game that was a lot closer than the final score suggested. The Browns were leading 14-0 early and held the lead right into before halftime.

They’re also getting healthier as Phil Taylor and Ahytba Rubin return this week, while their pass defense has been better now that Joe Haden has returned from suspension. They’re not going to the playoffs or anything and they’ll probably still have a huge draft pick, but they’re not an easy win, as the Chargers will tell you. As I’ve said before, comparing them to teams that were winless late into last season, they’re closer to the Dolphins (who finished 6-3 after starting 0-7) than the Colts or Rams, who both finished with a league worst 2-14 record.

Studs

RB Trent Richardson: Rushed for 122 yards (68 after contact) and a touchdown on 24 attempts, 7 broken tackles, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 3 pass block snaps, caught 1 pass for 12 yards on 1 attempt

LT Joe Thomas: Did not allow a pressure on 30 pass block snaps, run blocked for 6 yards on 3 attempts

RG Shawn Lauvao: Did not allow a pressure on 30 pass block snaps, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts

C Alex Mack: Did not allow a pressure on 30 pass block snaps, run blocked for 27 yards on 7 attempts

RT Mitchell Schwartz: Did not allow a pressure on 30 pass block snaps, run blocked for 16 yards on 5 attempts

SS TJ Ward: Did not allow a completion on 2 attempts, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 1 quarterback hit on 3 blitzes

FS Usama Young: Did not allow a completion on 2 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 5 solo tackles, 2 assists,

ROLB James-Michael Johnson: 7 solo tackles, 6 stops, 1 quarterback hurry on 4 blitzes, was not thrown on

Duds

QB Brandon Weeden: 11 of 27 for 129 yards, 4 throw aways, 4 batted passes, 4 drops, 69.8 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 8 of 30 drop backs (2 sacks, 2 of 6, 3 throw aways)

MLB D’Qwell Jackson: 6 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 1 missed tackle, allowed 5 catches for 60 yards on 6 attempts

DT John Hughes: 1 quarterback hurry on 24 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackle, 1 assist

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Oakland Raiders: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#29)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Raiders

Last week: 29 (+2)

Record: 3-4

After unimpressive wins over the crappy Jaguars and Chiefs, the Raiders are now 3-4 and somehow right in the thick of the playoff race. However, I’m still not sold on this team just because they beat some crappy teams. They schedule gets tougher going forward as they host Tampa Bay, go to Baltimore, host New Orleans, go to Cincinnati, host Cleveland, host Denver, host Kansas City, go to Carolina, and go to San Diego. I don’t think they’ll win very many games.

Studs

LG Cooper Carlisle: Did not allow a pressure on 29 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards on 3 attempts

ROLB Phillip Wheeler: 11 solo tackles, 1 assist, 6 stops, 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 3 quarterback hurries on 9 blitzes, allowed 7 catches for 66 yards on 7 attempts

LOLB Miles Burris: 6 solo tackles, 1 assist, 5 stops, 1 missed tackle, 1 quarterback hurry on 8 blitzes, allowed 4 catches for 25 yards on 4 attempts

SS Tyvon Branch: Allowed 1 catch for 1 yard on 2 attempts, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 1 quarterback hit on 6 blitzes

FS Matt Giordano: Did not allow a completion on 1 attempt, 1 interception, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist

DT Tommy Kelly: 2 quarterback hits and 4 quarterback hurries on 32 pass rush snaps, no tackles

K Sebastian Janikowski: 7 kickoffs, 5 touchbacks, 70.9 yards per kickoff, 18.9 opponent’s average starting distance, 4/4 FG (29, 32, 35, 36)

Duds

None.

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Carolina Panthers: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#30)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Panthers

Last week: 28 (-2)

Record: 1-6

Cam Newton is now 1-10 in his career in games decided by a touchdown or less and 6-17 overall. Typically, records in touchdown games even out over time. Teams that win a game by a touchdown or less win their following game 52% of the time if that game is also decided by a touchdown or less. However, it’s very troubling that Newton has started his career this way.

Typically, franchise quarterbacks are the exception to that rule and have a better than average record in games decided by touchdown or left. Cam Newton isn’t close to that at this point in his career. He’s still got plenty of upside, but it’s become increasingly obvious that we anointed him too fast. Unfortunately for him, because of that, he’s being viewed as a major disappointment this year, when really he’s just going through growing pains. I still have confidence in him long term.

Studs

WR Steve Smith: Caught 7 passes for 118 yards on 15 attempts on 46 snaps, 1.2 YAC per catch, 1 drop, 1 interception when thrown to

LE Charles Johnson: 2 sacks and 6 quarterback hurries on 33 pass rush snaps, 1 assist, 2 stops

MLB Luke Kuechly: 11 solo tackles, 6 stops, allowed 2 catches for 16 yards on 2 attempts

RE Greg Hardy: 3 sacks and 2 quarterback hurries, 2 solo tackles, 5 stops

RE Frank Alexander: 4 quarterback hurries on 26 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 3 solo tackles, 3 stops

Duds

QB Cam Newton: 20 of 39 for 314 yards and 2 interceptions, 1 drop, 1 throw away, 3 batted passes, 63.0 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 15 of 43 drop backs (2 sacks, 2 scrambles, 5 of 11, 1 throw away, 1 interception), rushed for 37 yards on 5 carries, 1 fumble

RT Byron Bell: Allowed 5 quarterback hurries on 47 pass block snaps, run blocked for 0 yards on 3 attempts

LG Amini Silatolu: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 2 quarterback hurries on 47 pass block snaps, run blocked for 31 yards on 5 attempts

C Geoff Hangartner: Allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 47 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 26 yards on 13 attempts

RG Jeff Byers: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 47 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 6 yards on 2 attempts

TE Greg Olsen: Caught 3 passes for 23 yards on 5 attempts on 38 pass snaps, 2.0 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 9 pass block snaps

CB Josh Norman: Allowed 8 catches for 84 yards on 11 attempts, 1 interception, 4 solo tackles, 1 missed tackle

DT Nate Chandler: Didn’t record a pressure on 11 pass rush snaps, no tackles

ROLB James Anderson: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle

P Brian Nortman: 3 punts for 77 yards, 2 returns for 11 yards, 22.0 net yards per punt

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Kansas City Chiefs: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#31)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Chiefs

Last week: 30 (-1)

Record: 1-6

The Chiefs have yet to lead in regulation this year. Meanwhile, when Head Coach Romeo Crennel was asked why Jamaal Charles only got 5 carries last week, he said “I’m not exactly sure.” I get that Brian Daboll calls the play, but having no clue why your best offensive player isn’t getting the ball is ridiculous. Both of them should be fired. I have no idea how Romeo Crennel got another Head Coaching job. He’s worse than Todd Haley. That’s hard to do.

And yet they’re not last in these Power Rankings. The lesser of two terrible quarterbacks is starting this week as Brady Quinn suffered a concussion, meaning Matt Cassel will make this start. I thought the decision to start Quinn was a mistake (unless the goal was to secure the #1 overall pick). Cassel was turning the ball over at an incredible rate, but that was bound to regress to the mean eventually. Right now, he has an interception rate of 4.9%, almost double his career rate of 2.5% (not including this season).

Meanwhile, they have a turnover differential of -18. That won’t continue. Not only are they on pace to shatter the record of -30 (they’re on pace for -41), a record that’s stood since 1965, turnovers differential is also inconsistent on a week to week basis, as seen here.  Even if they break that record and finish with say a turnover differential of -31, that’s an average of -1.4 per game the rest of the way, which is barely half as bad as what they’ve done through 7 games (-2.6 per game).

Cassel also offers a career YPA that was over a yard per play better than Quinn’s. Unless he continues to throw interceptions at a rate almost double his career rate and the Chiefs continue to lose the turnover battle at a record pace, they’ll look improved with Cassel under center, even if it’s only the difference between 2 and 3 wins, and unfortunately for Chiefs fans, the difference between the 1st pick and the 2nd pick. They should still be able to get the franchise quarterback they need.

Studs

LT Branden Albert: Did not allow a pressure on 45 pass block snaps, run blocked for 7 yards on 3 attempts

CB Brandon Flowers: Allowed 1 catch for 7 yards on 6 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 3 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle

MLB Derrick Johnson: 9 solo tackles, 3 assists, 6 stops, 1 batted pass, allowed 3 catches for 16 yards on 4 attempts

RE Ropati Pitoitua: 1 quarterback hurry on 12 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops

Duds

LG Jeff Allen: Allowed 2 quarterback hit and 3 quarterback hurries on 45 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 17 yards on 1 attempt

CB Stanford Routt: Allowed 6 catches for 130 yards and 2 touchdowns on 10 attempts, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection, 1 penalty, 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 missed tackle

ROLB Tamba Hali: Did not record a pressure on 26 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop

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Jacksonville Jaguars: Week 9 NFL Power Rankings (#32)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 9 NFL Power Rankings, Jaguars

Last week: 32 (+0)

Record: 1-6

The Chiefs are bad, but I still think the Jaguars are the worst team in the league, in spite of the fact that they hung with a banged up Green Bay squad. In rate of sustaining drives differential, they rank dead last at -15.0%. No one else is worse than -10.3%. In yards per play differential, they rank dead last at -1.2. No one else is worse than 0.9. The Chiefs have played very poorly, but I have reason to think they won’t play quite as poorly going forward and I’ll get into that in their write up. They’re still really bad, but I’d give them a better shot to win more games going forward and if the two were to play, I would pick the Chiefs…and pass out in the 2nd quarter.

Studs

LT Eugene Monroe: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 57 pass block snaps, 1 penalty run blocked for 26 yards on 3 attempts

LG Mike Brewster: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 57 pass block snaps, run blocked for 20 yards on 6 attempts

RG Uche Nwanari: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 57 pass block snaps, run blocked for 2 yards on 1 attempt

RT Cameron Bradfield: Did not allow a pressure on 57 pass block snaps, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts

WR Cecil Shorts: Allowed 8 catches for 116 yards on 11 attempts on 55 pass snaps, 3.3 YAC per catch, 1 drop

CB Aaron Ross: Allowed 4 catches for 20 yards on 8 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 stop

LOLB Russell Allen: 7 solo tackle, 1 assist, 5 stops, allowed 1 catch for 4 yards on 3 attempts, 1 pass deflection

LE George Selvie: 2 quarterback hits and 1 quarterback hurry on 13 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops

Duds

WR Mike Thomas: Caught 4 passes for 19 yards on 7 attempts on 43 pass snaps, 1.5 YAC per catch, 1 drop

FS Chris Prosinski: Allowed 4 catches for 60 yards and 2 touchdowns on 4 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 4 solo tackles, 1 stop

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Chicago Bears: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#1)

stevenlourie 2012 NFL Power Rankings, 2012 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Bears

I’m keeping Chicago as my #1 team for all the reasons I listed last week. With the exception of the Thursday Night loss to Green Bay, the Bears have looked great this season, 4 of 5 games by 16 or more. While you can’t completely ignore what happened on Thursday Night Football, it’s unreasonable to put too much stock into one game when a team has had 3 days to prepare on the road.

In their other 4 games, with the exception of Jacksonville, who they destroyed in Jacksonville in a potential trap game, they’ve played good opponents. Dallas should be a playoff contender right until the very end. They beat them by 16 in Dallas. Blowout wins over Indianapolis and St. Louis didn’t look impressive at the time, but now they do. They also beat Detroit in a game that was a lot more lopsided than the 13-7 final score. Jay Cutler is now 10-1 in his last 11 games, including 22-10 dating back to 2010, including the 2 postseason games that year. They certainly didn’t do anything to lose this spot last week in a still wide open league.

Studs

LT J’Marcus Webb: Allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 17 yards on 3 attempts

CB Charles Tillman: Allowed 7 catches for 50 yards on 12 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 7 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 penalty

ROLB Lance Briggs: Allowed 1 catch for 2 yards on 4 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 3 solo tackles, 3 assists

SS Major Wright: Did not allow a catch on 3 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 quarterback hurry on 3 blitzes

DT Henry Melton: 1 quarterback hit and 5 quarterback hurries on 37 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops

Studs

C Roberto Garza: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 42 pass block snaps, 2 penalties, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts

RG Lance Louis: Allowed 1 sack and 1 quarterback hurry on 42 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 4 yards on 4 attempts

WR Devin Hester: Caught 3 passes for 38 yards on 6 attempts on 41 pass snaps, 11.3 YAC per catch, 1 drop, 1 punt return for 5 yards

TE Kellen Davis: Caught 1 pass for 3 yards on 2 attempts on 28 pass snaps, 4.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop

DT Amobi Okoye: Did not record a pressure on 22 pass rush snaps, no tackles

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