2012 Week 12 NFL Power Rankings

Buffalo Bills: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#21)

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Last week: 25 (+4)

Record: 4-6

It’s looking more and more likely that Ryan Fitzpatrick will not be back as the starter next season, owed 7.25 million non-guaranteed. GM Buddy Nix is known for being an open book when it comes to his offseason plans and his draft plans in particular. In 2010, he mentioned several times how much he wants one of those really speedy backs. Then with the 9th pick overall, he took CJ Spiller. Last year, he went on and on about the need to add cornerbacks and then drafted 2, including Stephon Gilmore 10th overall.

This year, he’s hinted on several occasions that he’d like to draft a quarterback early in the draft. Fir he said this: “Listen, we have said from day one, that we want to draft a good young quarterback. I don’t want to leave here without a franchise guy for the future in place. I have not said that before but I’m saying it now because it’s fact. Then he said this: “Let me be as honest as I can. I think we really need to address it [the quarterback [position] this year. The thing we can’t do is you can’t create one. You can’t go out, thinking ‘I’ve got to make this guy a player.’ If you do, then you’re going to be in a bigger mess.”

Most recently, he said this about rookie quarterbacks: “You draft them to play them now. You don’t draft them to let them sit. They’re thrown in there, and they’re responding extremely well right now.” If he’s to be believed, and I think he is, it looks like Fitzpatrick will not be brought back in 2013 and that he’ll be replaced by a rookie who will start immediately. It remains to be seen if Head Coach Chan Gailey, one of Fitzpatrick’s biggest backers and the owner of a 14-28 record in 2 ½ season as Head Coach of the Bills, will go with him. I’d say it’s more likely than not that he does.

Buffalo Bills

Studs

RB CJ Spiller: Rushed for 91 yards (65 after contact) on 22 attempts, 8 broken tackles, caught 3 passes for 39 yards on 4 attempts, allowed 1 quarterback hit and 1 quarterback hurry on 10 pass block snaps

LG Andy Levitre: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 12 yards on 3 attempts

C Eric Wood: Did not allow a pressure on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 37 yards on 6 attempts

CB Leodis McKelvin: Allowed 2 catches for 21 yards and a touchdown on 4 attempts, 1 solo tackle, 1 penalty, returned 3 kickoffs for 75 yards, returned 3 punts for 98 yards and a touchdown

FS Jairus Byrd: Allowed 1 catch for 2 yards on 2 attempts, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection, 3 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops

P Shawn Powell: 7 punts for 317 yards, 5 inside 20, 3 returns for 31 yards, 40.9 net yards per punt

Duds

WR Donald Jones: Caught 2 passes for 11 yards on 4 attempts on 36 pass snaps, 6.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop

WR TJ Graham: Caught 2 passes for 5 yards on 2 attempts on 29 pass snaps, 1.5 YAC per catch, 1 penalty

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Arizona Cardinals: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#22)

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Last week: 23 (+1)

Record: 4-6

I’ve watched a lot of football, but I saw two things I’ve never seen before in the Falcons/Cardinals game this week. First, Matt Ryan won despite throwing 5 interceptions and no touchdowns, the first time that’s happened since the merger (Bart Starr did it last). Second, the Cardinals benched John Skelton despite a 13-0 lead. I don’t have any facts on that, but I’m willing to bet that doesn’t happen very often and certainly never that I’ve seen. This was also the first time since the 1993 Eagles that a team went 4-0 to start the year and then lost 6 straight (they finished 8-8).

It might have been the right move though. Skelton’s play had absolutely nothing to do with their lead, as he was 2 of 7 for 6 yards at the time of his benching. He’s been horrific this year, completing 54.7% of his passes for an average of 5.9 YPA and 2 touchdowns to 5 interceptions. There were a lot of people who thought he was a potential franchise quarterback over Kevin Kolb in the preseason (including Head Coach Ken Whisenhunt, who made him his week 1 starter), but that looks ridiculous now. Even Kolb has noticeably outplayed him.

Actually, looking back at last year, even though Skelton was 6-2 to Kolb’s 2-6, he was still not the better quarterback. Skelton had the luxury of playing most of his games supported by better defensive play. In Skelton’s 8 games, the Cardinals allowed 19.0 points per game and in Kolb’s they allowed 24.5. Skelton was actually the inferior of the two quarterbacks last season. He led 100 drives last season and the Cardinals scored 16 touchdowns and 11 field goals (129 points, 1.29 points per drive) on those 100 drives. Kolb led 91 drives, leading to 20 touchdowns and 6 field goals (138 points, 1.52 points per drive).

The man he was benched for is probably not much better. Ryan Lindley is actually an eerily similar quarterback to Skelton, he’s big, tall, looks the part, and can make all the throws, but he comes from a small school, has major accuracy issues, and generally deserved to be drafted where he was drafted (Skelton in the 4th, Lindley in the 6th).

Lindley was 9 of 20 for just 64 yards in his debut. The only reason they were competitive was their defense and running game. In 4 years at San Diego State, despite not playing the toughest competition, he never exceeded 60% completion in a single season (57.7% was his career high). He had some awful games against tougher competition, including a horrible game against TCU last year where he was just all over the place with the ball. If he couldn’t complete 60% of his passes in college at San Diego State, how is he going to do so in the NFL and generally you need to do so to be a successful starting quarterback. He was worth a shot in the 6th round and the Cardinals might as well give him a shot, but he should show why he went in the 6th round.

As for the future of their quarterback position, Lindley and Skelton aren’t it. Kolb might be. I know he’s owed a lot of money (11 million), but this isn’t a good offseason to need a quarterback. The draft is weak. Free agency is weak. The trade market is weak. They put a lot of resources into him and he was decent this year despite a horrific offensively line. It might not be the worst idea to focus on the offensive line this offseason, forego adding another quarterback, and see if with a better offensive line, Kolb can be the quarterback they thought he’d be. I don’t think it’s been ruled out yet.

Studs

RB La’Rod Stephens-Howling: Rushed for 127 yards (57 after contact) and a touchdown on 22 attempts, 4 broken tackles, caught 2 passes for 6 yards on 3 attempts, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 5 pass block snaps

RG Adam Snyder: Did not allow a pressure on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 98 yards on 4 attempts

LG Daryn Colledge: Did not allow a pressure on 32 pass block snaps, run blocked for 9 yards on 3 attempts

MLB Daryl Washington: 10 solo tackles, 2 assists, 4 stops, 1 penalty, 1 quarterback hurry on 15 blitzes, allowed 4 catches for 35 yards on 7 attempts, 1 interception

MLB Paris Lenon: 8 solo tackles, 6 stops, 2 missed tackles, 4 quarterback hurries on 20 blitzes, allowed 3 catches for 27 yards on 4 attempts

Duds

QB Ryan Lindley: 9 of 20 for 64 yards, 1 throw away, 54.0 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 5 of 23 drop backs (3 sacks, 0 of 2)

LT Nate Potter: Allowed 2 sacks and 1 quarterback hit on 32 pass block snaps

WR Larry Fitzgerald: Caught 1 pass for 11 yards on 7 attempts on 32 pass snaps, 7.0 YAC per catch

WR Andre Roberts: Caught 1 pass for 7 yards on 5 attempts on 30 pass snaps, 4.0 YAC per catch

TE Rob Housler: Was not thrown to on 20 pass snaps, 1 penalty

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St. Louis Rams: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#24)

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Last week: 20 (-4)

Record: 3-6-1

First they got blown out 45-7 by the Patriots and then everyone soured on this team. Then they tied the 49ers and everyone backed them as home favorites against the Jets. Now they’ve lost to the Jets and the public has soured on them so much they are now road dogs in Arizona against Ryan Lindley, a 6th round rookie making his first career start. That’s football for you. We’ll see if the pattern holds.

Studs

C Robert Turner: Did not allow a pressure on 49 pass block snaps, run blocked for 81 yards on 9 attempts

LT Rodger Saffold: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 49 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 3 yards on 2 attempts

ROLB Rocky McIntosh: 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops, was not thrown on

P Johnny Hekker: 5 punts for 250 yards, 1 inside 20, 3 returns for 29 yards, 44.2 net yards per punt

Duds

RB Daryl Richardson: Rushed for 26 yards (12 after contact) on 6 attempts, 2 broken tackles, 1 fumble, 1 penalty, caught 1 pass for 18 yards on 3 attempts, 1 drop, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 8 pass block snaps

DT Kendall Langford: Did not record a pressure on 19 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle

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Detroit Lions: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#25)

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Last week: 19 (-6)

Record: 4-6

I’ve said it a bunch of times this year, but every year, one team goes from in the playoffs to 5 wins or fewer. It’s looked like a shaky prediction as times this year, especially since every single playoff team from last year is 5-5 or better right now, except one (Saints and Bengals are both 5-5, so they’re still technically candidates). The Lions are that one team and if you look at their remaining schedule, it’s not hard to imagine some way they go 1-5 over their final 6 games. They host Houston and Indianapolis, go to Green Bay and Arizona, then host Atlanta and Chicago.

Studs

RT Gosder Cherilus: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 49 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 4 yards and a touchdown on 2 attempts

WR Calvin Johnson: Caught 5 passes for 143 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts on 49 pass snaps, 4.4 YAC per catch, 1 drop

DT Nick Fairley: 2 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, and 3 quarterback hurries on 31 pass rush snaps, 1 penalty, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops

Duds

QB Matt Stafford: 17 of 39 for 266 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions, 2 drops, pressured on 17 of 46 drop backs (5 sacks, 1 scramble, 6 of 11, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception)

RG Stephen Peterman: Allowed 7 quarterback hurries on 49 pass block snaps, run blocked for 14 yards on 4 attempts

LT Riley Reiff: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, 2 penalties, run blocked for 5 yards on 1 attempt

TE Tony Scheffler: Caught 2 passes for 22 yards on 10 attempts on 34 pass snaps, 3.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop, 1 interception when thrown to

WR Titus Young: Caught 1 pass for 24 yards on 7 attempts on 45 pass snaps, 7.0 YAC per catch, 2 penalties, 1 interception when thrown to

TE Brandon Pettigrew: Caught 4 passes for 22 yards on 6 attempts on 37 pass snaps, 3.0 YAC per catch, allowed 1 quarterback hit on 5 pass block snaps

MLB Stephen Tulloch: 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, 2 stops, 3 missed tackles, allowed 3 catches for 33 yards and a touchdown on 3 attempts

RB Stefan Logan: 1 punt return for 0 yards, 1 fumble, 2 kickoff returns for 45 yards

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New York Jets: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#26)

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Last week: 27 (+1)

Record: 4-6

The Jets were bound to bounce back last week. Teams that lose back-to-back games by 21 or more go 36-16 ATS in their next game. However, it still isn’t a promising sign going forward. For every one good Mark Sanchez performance, he has 3 bad ones. Don’t believe me? This year he’s had 3 games in which he’s had a QB rating over 90 in which he attempted 20 or more passes (including last week). In the game immediately after the first 2, he was a combined 38 of 81 for 421 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception, he led his team to 19 combined points in a 9 point loss and a 21 point loss.

In fact, excluding those 3 games and one in which he passed for just 82 yards, but still had a QB rating over 100 somehow, his season high QB rating was 66.6. This week, on short rest, he gets a red hot and pissed off Patriots team that has added a new #1 cornerback since the last time they played. They’re stuck with Sanchez into 2013 because he’s owed 8.25 million fully guaranteed, but let’s hope that once Rex Ryan and Mike Tannenbaum are fired, the new regime will send Tebow somewhere he can start, because he is one of the top-32 quarterbacks in the NFL.

Studs

QB Mark Sanchez: 15 of 20 for 178 yards and a touchdown, 2 drops, 107.8 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 4 of 24 drop backs (3 sacks, 0 of 1)

LT D’Brickashaw Ferguson: Did not allow a pressure on 24 pass block snaps, run blocked for 5 yards on 2 attempts

C Nick Mangold: Did not allow a pressure on 24 pass block snaps, run blocked for 52 yards on 13 attempts

RG Brandon Moore: Did not allow a pressure on 24 pass block snaps, run blocked for 28 yards on 6 attempts

SS Eric Smith: Allowed 2 catches for 17 yards on 7 attempts, 1 interception, 3 solo tackles, 1 stop

Duds

WR Stephen Hill: Did not catch a pass on 2 attempts on 11 pass snaps, 1 drop, 1 penalty

LE Mike DeVito: Did not record a pressure on 10 pass rush snaps, 1 missed tackle

MLB Bart Scott: 1 assist, 1 missed tackle, was not thrown on

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Philadelphia Eagles: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#27)

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Last week: 21 (-6)

Record: 3-7

The Phillies have won more recently than the Eagles. The Eagles’ 3 wins this season have come by a combined 4 points. They’ve now lost 6 games in a row and appear to have completely quit on Andy Reid. Last week I said that Andy Reid be brought back if Foles impressed, but Foles did the exact opposite of impressing last week, going 21 of 46 for 204 yards and 2 touchdowns against Washington’s crappy secondary in a 31-6 loss. In fact, he was so bad that Michael Vick has made a miraculous recovery from a concussion that looked season ending last week. I think Reid knows he’s a dead man walking and doesn’t care anymore and his players certainly don’t either. Expect them to bring in a new regime who brings in their own quarterback because neither Vick or Foles is a long term solution.

Studs

LG Evan Mathis: Did not allow a pressure on 53 pass block snaps, run blocked for 6 yards on 2 attempts

MLB DeMeco Ryans: 9 solo tackles, 6 stops, 1 missed tackle, allowed 2 catches for 7 yards on 2 attempts

LE Jason Babin: 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 5 quarterback hurries on 15 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 2 stops

DT Mike Patterson: 3 quarterback hurries on 12 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops

DT Fletcher Cox: 4 quarterback hurries on 13 pass rush snaps, 5 solo tackles, 2 assists, 4 stops

Duds

QB Nick Foles: 21 of 46 for 204 yards and 2 interceptions, 2 batted passes, 4 throw away, 1 hit as thrown, 5 drops, 56.7 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 17 of 50 drop backs (4 sacks, 5 of 13, 1 interception, 3 throw aways, 1 hit as thrown, 1 drop)

RB LeSean McCoy: Rushed for 45 yards (34 after contact) on 15 attempts, 1 broken tackle, 1 fumble, 1 penalty, allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 1 quarterback hurry on 17 pass block snaps, caught 6 passes for 67 yards on 6 attempts

RG Jake Scott: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 53 pass block snaps, 3 penalties

WR DeSean Jackson: Caught 2 passes for 5 yards on 7 attempts on 50 pass snaps, 4.0 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to

TE Clay Harbor: Caught 1 pass for -1 yard on 5 attempts on 19 pass snaps, 0.0 YAC per catch, 2 drops, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 1 pass block snap

WR Jeremy Maclin: Did not catch a pass on 2 attempts on 51 pass snaps, 1 penalty

CB Nnamdi Asomugha: Allowed 4 catches for 75 yards and a touchdown on 4 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops

RE Trent Cole: 1 quarterback hurry on 16 pass rush snaps, 1 missed tackle

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Cleveland Browns: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#28)

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Last week: 28 (+0)

Record: 2-8

The Browns haven’t been run out of the building by anyone this year. They’ve only lost one game by more than 10 this year and at was a game that was closer than the final score and one in which they led by 14 early. So that’s encouraging. However, it’s really an issue that this team can’t seem to win close games and it’s not just this year. Since the start of the 2010 season, they’ve lost 18 games by 7 points or fewer, by far most in the NFL. Even last week when they jumped out to a 13-0 lead on the road in Dallas, I wasn’t too worried that I picked Dallas in survivor because I felt the Cowboys had a very good chance to come back and sure enough they did.

Studs

FS Usama Young: 1 sack on 1 blitz, 2 solo tackles, 3 stops, was not thrown on

Duds

LG John Greco: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 3 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 34 yards on 7 attempts

CB Sheldon Brown: Allowed 10 catches for 129 yards and a touchdown on 14 attempts, 1 pass deflection

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Carolina Panthers: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#29)

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Last week: 29 (+0)

Record: 2-8

This team’s struggles in close games in the 4th quarter get more ridiculous every game. How did they blow that 21-10 late lead? After losing in overtime to the Buccaneers last week, Cam Newton is now 1-11 in games decided by a touchdown or less. The good news is he’s 7-7 in all other games and if he were even average in close games, this would have been a .500 team over the past few seasons. However, look at his career stats in the 4th quarter when the game is within 7 points: 65 of 123 (52.8%) for 887 yards (7.2 YPA), 4 touchdowns, and 3 interceptions.  That’s an issue.

Studs

QB Cam Newton: 16 of 29 for 252 yards and a touchdown, 1 throw away, 1 spike, 2 hit as thrown, 2 drops, 96.3 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 20 of 34 drop backs (2 sacks, 3 scrambles, 7 of 15, 1 touchdown, 1 throw away, 2 hit as thrown), rushed for 40 yards (11 after contact) on 11 attempts, 2 broken tackles

LOLB Thomas Davis: Allowed 6 catches for 39 yards on 6 attempts, 12 solo tackles, 3 assists, 6 stops, 1 missed tackle, 1 penalty

SS Charles Godfrey: Did not allow a completion on 2 attempts, 6 solo tackles, 2 assists, 2 stops, 1 batted pass

FS Haruki Nakamura: Did not allow a completion on 1 attempt, 1 interception, 4 solo tackles

DT Dwan Edwards: 2 quarterback hits and 2 quarterback hurries on 47 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, 3 stops

RE Greg Hardy: 1 sack, 3 quarterback hits, and 7 quarterback hurries on 46 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle, 1 penalty

Duds

C Geoff Hangartner: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 3 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 6 yards on 4 attempts

LG Amini Silatolu: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 31 yards on 11 attempts

RG Garry Williams: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 2 quarterback hurries on 33 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards on 4 attempts

WR Louis Murphy: Caught 1 pass for 12 yards on 3 attempts on 29 pass snaps, 0.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop

DT Ron Edwards: Did not record a pressure on 14 pass rush snaps, no tackles

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Oakland Raiders: Week 12 NFL Power Rankings (#30)

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Last week: 30 (+0)

Record: 3-7

The Raiders have lost two straight in embarrassing fashion, losing 55-20 to the Ravens and 38-17 to the Saints last week at home and they’ve now allowed 135 points in their last 3 games. The good news is that teams generally do well after two straight losses by 21 or more (36-16 ATS since 2002), as they’re embarrassed and overlooked. If the Raiders can’t have a rebound game this week against an overrated Bengals team, it might be time to wonder if they’ve simply quit. Their new front office inherited a mess and it will take at least another year or two to get them back to even being respectable. Before his death, Al Davis really mortgaged their future for two 8-8 seasons (makes sense since he was dying).

Studs

RB Marcel Reece: Rushed for 103 yards (84 after contact) on 19 attempts, 3 broken tackles, caught 4 passes for 90 yards on 5 attempts, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 8 pass block snaps

Duds

RG Mike Brisiel: Allowed 5 quarterback hurries on 46 pass block snaps, run blocked for 16 yards on 3 attempts

TE Brandon Myers: Caught 6 passes for 55 yards and a touchdown on 9 attempts on 35 pass snaps, 5.8 YAC per catch, 2 drops, 2 interceptions from thrown to, allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 7 pass block snaps

WR Denarius Moore: Caught 1 pass for 9 yards on 7 attempts on 34 pass snaps, 6.0 YAC per catch

LOLB Miles Burris: 9 solo tackles, 4 stops, 2 missed tackles, allowed 8 catches for 63 yards and a touchdown on 8 attempts

CB Michael Huff: Allowed 3 catches for 55 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle

DT Tommy Kelly: Did not record a pressure on 23 pass rush snaps, 1 assist

RE Matt Shaughnessy: Did not record a pressure on 20 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop

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