Last week: 20 (-1)
Record: 1-2
On bye.
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2012 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings
St. Louis Rams: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#22)
Last week: 22 (+0)
Record: 2-2
Despite their records, St. Louis and Arizona actually have the same yards per play differential. Neither has a very good one (tied with 27th with Oakland), but the Rams have a very good chance to knock off the undefeated Cardinals this Thursday Night, especially on home with the Cardinals having to travel on short rest. Besides, after the Rams’ win last week, NFC West teams are 37-23 ATS in divisional games at home. Even the 49ers went 1-2 ATS on the road in the division last year. The Rams just beat a similar team in the Seahawks. We could see a big upset on Thursday Night. Stay tuned for my pick tomorrow night.
Studs
CB Bradley Fletcher: Did not allow a completion on 3 attempts, 1 interception, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop
CB Janoris Jenkins: Allowed 1 catch for 15 yards on 2 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 2 solo tackles, 1 stop, 1 quarterback hurry on 2 blitzes
LE Chris Long: 7 quarterback hurries on 24 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 1 stop
LE William Hayes: 3 quarterback hurries on 14 pass rush snaps, 4 solo tackles, 4 stops, 1 missed tackle
K Greg Zuerlein: 5 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks, 71.6 yards per kickoff, 28.8 opponent’s average starting position
Duds
LG Quinn Ojinnaka: Allowed 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 5 quarterback pressures on 33 pass block snaps, run blocked for 9 yards on 2 attempts
LOLB JoLonn Dunbar: Allowed 5 catches for 39 yards on 5 attempts, 3 solo tackles, 2 assist, 1 stop, 2 missed tackles
SS Quentin Mikell: Allowed 1 catch for 7 yards on 1 attempt, 7 solo tackles, 4 missed tackles
MLB James Laurinaitis: 8 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 missed tackles, allowed 1 catch for 5 yards on 1 attempt
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Detroit Lions: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#23)
Last week: 23 (+0)
Record: 1-3
I had the Lions as one of my disappointing teams to start the season and I’m feeling pretty good about that. Their special teams are a mess, having already allowed 4 special teams touchdowns this year, but special teams aside, they still rank 14th in yards per play differential. If they can get their special teams issues cleaned up, they can be better, but in a tough NFC, at 1-3, they are going to have a tough time making the playoffs. Matt Stafford isn’t quite as good as he was last year and the defense is just as bad and in their last 16 games, a full season, they’re 6-10. That sounds like about where they’ll end up at the end of this season and they’re a candidate, along with New Orleans, to be this year’s team that goes from in the playoffs to 5 or fewer wins.
Studs
CB Chris Houston: Allowed 2 catches for 4 yards on 4 attempts, 3 solo tackles, 2 stops
LE Cliff Avril: 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 2 quarterback hurries on 18 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops
Duds
RB Mikel Leshoure: Rushed for 26 yards (20 after contact) on 13 carries, 1 broken tackle, 1 fumble, caught 4 passes for 37 yards on 4 attempts
RG Stephen Peterman: Allowed 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries on 61 pass block snaps, run blocked for 0 yards on 1 attempt
WR Titus Young: Caught 1 pass for 17 yards on 2 attempts on 54 pass snaps, 1.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop
TE Brandon Pettigrew: Caught 7 passes for 67 yards on 9 attempts on 51 pass snaps, 4.4 YAC per catch, 2 drops
WR Calvin Johnson: Caught 5 passes for 54 yards on 11 attempts on 54 pass snaps, 1.6 YAC per catch, 2 drops
CB Dwight Bentley: Allowed 3 catches for 44 yards on 3 attempts, 2 penalties, 4 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
MLB Stephen Tulloch: 6 solo tackles, 3 missed tackles, 3 stops, allowed 3 catches for 16 yards on 3 attempts
DT Nick Fairley: Did not record a pressure on 19 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 penalty
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Washington Redskins: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#24)
Last week: 24
Record: 2-2
The defense is still a mess and they don’t have a 1st round pick for the next 2 years to fix it, but Redskins fans have to be thrilled with Robert Griffin. They’d do that trade in a heartbeat again. Down 2 with under 2 minutes left to go, was there any doubt that he’d lead the team into field goal range for the potential game winning field goal? And was there any doubt that Billy Cundiff would nail it for the win? Actually…yes there was, but still.
Washington Redskins
Studs
RB Alfred Morris: Rushed for 113 yards (74 after contact) and a touchdown on 21 carries, 1 catch for -4 yards on 2 attempts
QB Robert Griffin: 26 of 35 for 323 yards, 1 spike, 3 drops, 99.0 adjusted QB rating, rushed for 43 yards and a touchdown on 7 attempts, 1 fumble, pressured on 13 of 40 drop backs (2 sacks, 2 scrambles, 7 of 9, 1 drop)
LT Trent Williams: Allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 43 pass block snaps, run blocked for 49 yards and a touchdown on 6 attempts
Duds
LG Kory Lichtensteiger: Allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 43 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 4 yards on 4 attempts
WR Leonard Hankerson: 7 catches for 57 yards on 11 attempts on 38 pass snaps, 3.7 YAC per catch, 2 drops
WR Pierre Garcon: 1 catch for 20 yards on 1 attempt on 30 pass snaps, 10.0 YAC per catch, 2 penalties
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Miami Dolphins: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#25)
Last week: 29 (+4)
Record: 1-3
The Dolphins lost in overtime last week, but you could argue they should have won, on the road, against an unbeaten team. The Cardinals recovered all 6 of the fumbles that hit the ground and Miami averaged a whopping 6.5 yards per play, as opposed to 4.2 for Arizona. They rank 8th in the league in yards per play differential and since their week 1 blowout loss against Houston, who pretty much blows everyone out, they’ve blown out the Raiders and lost in overtime to the Cardinals and Jets. Ryan Tannehill is a rookie and he’s going to be inconsistent, but he has promise. They also run the ball well and play solid defense. They won’t make the playoffs or anything, but this is an underrated team that could play spoiler and upset some “superior” teams.
Studs
C Mike Pouncey: Did not allow a pressure on 47 pass block snaps, run blocked for 46 yards on 7 attempts
WR Brian Hartline: Caught 12 passes for 253 yards and a touchdown on 17 attempts on 44 pass plays, 8.0 YAC per catch, 2 interceptions when thrown to
WR Davone Bess: Caught 7 passes for 123 yards on 12 attempts on 45 pass plays, 8.7 YAC per catch, 1 drop
LOLB Kevin Burnett: 7 solo tackles, 2 assists, 5 stops, and 1 missed tackle, 1 quarterback hit and 2 quarterback hurries on 9 blitzes, allowed 5 catches for 28 yards on 5 attempts
MLB Karlos Dansby: 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 5 stops, 1 sack and 1 quarterback hit on 11 blitzes, did not allow a completion on 3 attempts
LE Cameron Wake: 5 sacks, 1 quarterback hit, and 7 quarterback hurries on 49 pass rush snaps, 5 stops
CB Sean Smith: Allowed 8 catches for 76 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts, 2 interceptions, 1 pass deflection, 5 solo tackles, 1 stop
CB Nolan Carroll: Allowed 6 catches for 69 yards on 13 attempts, 6 solo tackles
Duds
RT Jonathan Martin: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 5 quarterback hurries on 47 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 4 yards on 4 attempts
RB Reggie Bush: Rushed for 67 yards (26 after contact) on 17 carries, 1 penalty, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 11 pass rush snaps
WR Legedu Naanee: Caught 1 pass for 19 yards on 2 attempts on 28 pass snaps, 1.0 YAC per catch
DT Randy Starks: 1 quarterback hit and 1 quarterback hurry on 46 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 missed tackle
DT Paul Soliai: Did not record a pressure on 15 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
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New Orleans Saints: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#26)
Last week: 26 (+0)
Record: 0-4
The bad news is the Saints are 0-4. The good news is that they looked a lot better last week, going into Lambeau Field and playing a solid game in a close loss to the Packers. There’s understandably adjustment period to live without your Head Coach, especially a Super Bowl winning one like Sean Payton, but it should get easier on a weekly basis. Plus, having Drew Brees doesn’t hurt. That’s why this team is ahead of several teams that have won games. Still, they are the favorite to be this year’s team to goes from in the playoffs to 5 or fewer wins.
Studs
C Brian La Puente: Did not allow a pressure on 58 pass rush snaps, run blocked for 17 yards on 4 attempts
QB Drew Brees: 35 of 54 for 446 yards and 3 touchdowns, 2 throw aways, 4 drops, 99.9 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 6 of 56 drop backs (2 sacks, 1 of 4, 1 throw away)
WR Marques Colston: Caught 9 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown on 13 attempts on 52 pass snaps, 4.0 YAC per catch, 1 penalty
Duds
RB Pierre Thomas: Rushed for 14 yards (12 after contact) on 9 attempts, 2 catches for -1 yards on 2 attempts
WR Devery Henderson: Caught 1 pass for 10 yards on 2 attempts on 38 pass snaps, 3.0 YAC per catch, 1 drop
LE Cameron Jordan: 1 quarterback hurry on 46 pass rush snaps, 1 penalty, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist
DT Sedrick Ellis: Did not record a pressure on 25 pass rush snaps, no tackles
LOLB Scott Shanle: 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 missed tackle, allowed 4 catches for 49 yards and a touchdown on 5 attempts, 1 pass deflection
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Kansas City Chiefs: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#27)
Last week: 27 (+0)
Record: 1-3
After a 37-20 home loss to the Chargers, the Chiefs have now lost 12 of their 19 losses by 16 or more points since 2010. When it rains, it pours for this team and it definitely poured this week as they turned the ball over 6 times en route to a blowout loss. At one point in the middle of the 2nd quarter, the Chiefs had 14 yards to the Chargers’ 20 points. Now there are calls for Matt Cassel’s job, though it’s not like Brady Quinn will be any better. They won’t be as bad as they were last week as that performance was skewed by 6 turnovers, which won’t happen every week, but it looks like another lost season for them. Hopefully they start over at the quarterback position this offseason.
Studs
C Ryan Lilja: Did not allow a pressure on 50 pass block snaps, run blocked for 29 yards on 8 attempts
LT Branden Albert: Did not allow a pressure on 50 pass block snaps, run blocked for -4 yards on 1 attempts
RG Jon Asamoah: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 50 pass block snaps, run blocked for 24 yards on 5 attempts
WR Dwayne Bowe: Caught 7 passes for 108 yards and a touchdown on 12 targets on 49 pass snaps, 2.7 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to
CB Brandon Flowers: Allowed 1 catch for 2 yards on 3 attempts, 1 interception, 1 pass deflection, 4 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
FS Abram Elam: Did not allow a completion on 1 attempt, 1 pass deflection, 3 solo tackles
MLB Jovan Belcher: 9 solo tackles, 1 assist, 6 stops, 1 quarterback hurry on 2 blitzes, was not thrown on
P Dustin Colquitt: 4 punts for 205 yards, 3 inside 20, 1 return for 0 yards, 51.3 net yards per punt
Duds
WR Dexter McCluster: Caught 2 passes for 6 yards on 3 targets on 37 pass plays, 1.5 YAC per catch, 1 drop, 1 interception when thrown to
TE Tony Moeaki: Caught 3 passes for 18 yards on 4 targets on 43 pass plays, 1.7 YAC per catch, 1 drop, 1 interception when thrown to, 2 penalties
SS Eric Berry: Allowed 7 catches for 97 yards on 7 attempts, 5 solo tackles, 3 stops, 1 missed tackle, 2 penalties
LE Tyson Jackson: Did not record a pressure on 16 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle
NT Dontari Poe: Did not record a pressure on 24 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 stop
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New York Jets: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#28)
Last week: 25 (-3)
Record: 2-2
Prior to the Jets’ 34-0 home loss to the 49ers last week, one NFL executive compared the Revis injury to any other team losing it’s starting quarterback and he was so right. Without Revis, they can’t do any of the things to normally make them good defensively and it certainly looked like it on the field last week. They turned the ball over 4 times and didn’t force a turnover and averaged just 2.9 yards per play, as opposed to 5.6 yards per play for their opponent’s, the 49ers. You could have given them 10 quarters and they wouldn’t have been able to score. They have 2 wins, but if you started the season over today, they’d probably finish with the worst record in the NFL. There isn’t a single thing they do well without Revis. They rank 30th in the league in yards per play differential and expect that to continue to fall in future weeks.
New York Jets
Studs
CB Antonio Cromartie: Did not allow a completion on 4 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 3 solo tackles, 1 penalty
Duds
QB Mark Sanchez: 13 of 29 for 103 yards and an interception, 1 hit as thrown, 1 throw away, 1 batted pass, 1 drop, 48.7 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 10 of 32 drop backs (1 scramble, 2 sacks, 1 of 7, 1 throw away, 1 hit as thrown)
C Nick Mangold: Allowed 1 sack and 2 quarterback hurries on 36 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 22 yards on 8 attempts
LG Matt Slauson: Allowed 3 quarterback hurries on 22 pass block snaps, run blocked for 3 yards on 1 carry
RB Shonn Greene: Rushed for 34 yards (18 after contact) on 11 carries, no catches on 1 target, 1 drop
WR Santonio Holmes: Caught 4 passes for 29 yards on 8 targets on 25 pass plays, 8.5 YAC per catch
MLB David Harris: 9 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 5 missed tackles, allowed 3 catches for 26 yards on 3 attempts, 1 quarterback hurry on 3 blitzes
LE Mike DeVito: Did not record a pressure on 15 pass rush snaps, 1 assist
NT Kenrick Ellis: Did not record a pressure on 10 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop
RE Muhammad Wilkerson: Did not record a pressure on 24 pass rush snaps, 4 solo tackles, 3 stops
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#29)
Last week: 28 (-1)
Record: 1-3
The Buccaneers rank dead last in the league in yards per play differential and a home loss to Washington, even with their kicker imploding, solidifies them as that. Before last week’s game, Washington ranked 31st in that category. They really don’t seem improved over last season and they look headed for yet another 4 win or fewer season and I say this as someone who was a big believer in them and that they would improve before the season.
If that happens, they’ll be in an interesting position with Josh Freeman. 2013 is his contract year and he’s only really had 1 good season out of 4. I’m not saying he’s a full on bust, but he’s at least in that Jason Campbell class and they might want to invest in someone better for the future, like Washington did when Campbell’s contract was expiring (they traded for Donovan McNabb, who they cut a season later, and then eventually took Robert Griffin).
Studs
LG Carl Nicks: Did not allow a pressure on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 2 yards on 1 attempt
WR Vincent Jackson: Caught 6 passes for 100 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets on 42 pass snaps, 1.0 YAC per catch, 1 interception when thrown to
WR Mike Williams: Caught 4 passes for 115 yards on 8 targets on 40 pass snaps, 11.0 YAC per catch
LOLB Lavonte David: 12 solo tackles, 2 assists, 8 stops, 1 missed tackle, allowed 4 catches for 47 yards on 4 attempts, 1 quarterback hurry on 6 blitzes
LE Michael Bennett: 1 sack, 1 quarterback hit, and 5 quarterback hurries on 28 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 missed tackle, 2 stops
K Connor Barth: 3/3 FG (47, 50, 57)
P Michael Koenen: 6 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks, 71.7 yards per kickoff, 19.3 opponent’s average starting distance, 6 punts for 277 yards, 4 inside 20, 3 returns for 17 yards, 43.3 net yards per punt
Duds
RB Doug Martin: Rushed for 33 yards (18 after contact) on 8 carries, 1 broken tackle, caught 2 passes for 9 yards on 4 attempts, 2 drops
C Jeremy Zuttah: Allowed 2 quarterback hurries on 42 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 0 yards on 1 attempt
ROLB Quincy Black: 1 solo tackle, 1 assist, 1 missed tackle, allowed 3 catches for 38 yards on 3 attempts
DT Roy Miller: Did not record a pressure on 28 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop
RE Daniel Te’o-Nesheim: 1 quarterback hurry on 29 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
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Oakland Raiders: Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#30)
Last week: 31 (+1)
Record: 1-3
I knew that win over the Steelers was a fluke. The Raiders looked awful in all facets of the game last week and once again look like the worst team in the league as they did two weeks ago. They rank 27th in the league in yards per play differential. Their defense is a mess and they just don’t have the offensive talent to keep up. I’ve said all along this will be one of the worst teams in the league this year. I’m standing by it.
Studs
RG Mike Brisiel: Did not allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps, run blocked for 12 yards on 3 attempts
Duds
RB Darren McFadden: Rushed for 34 yards (13 after contact) on 13 carries, allowed 1 quarterback hit on 6 pass block snaps, 1 catch for 4 yards on 1 target
RT Willie Smith: Allowed 2 sacks, 2 quarterback hits, and 5 quarterback hurries on 38 pass rush snaps, run blocked for 5 yards on 1 attempt
FS Matt Giordano: Allowed 5 catches for 32 yards on 6 attempts, 9 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 missed tackles
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