Last week: 14 (+3)
Record: 3-3
On bye.
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2012 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings
Miami Dolphins: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#12)
Last week: 12 (+0)
Record: 3-3
On bye.
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Green Bay Packers: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#13)
Last week: 14 (+1)
Record: 4-3
The Packers have looked awfully impressive over the past 2 weeks and Aaron Rodgers is playing out of his mind, but they’re still the favorite to be this year’s team that goes from a 1st round bye to out of the playoffs, though New England and Baltimore made strong cases last week and you can’t count out San Francisco. However, I have a lot of trouble seeing that team coming from the AFC this year since it’s such a bad conference. In the NFC, you can miss the playoffs even if you deserve it and that might happen for the Packers.
At just 4-3, they’ll need to go 7-3 to make the playoffs at the very least, 8-2 to be safe. I don’t know if they’re quite that good. The defense isn’t great and is missing several players, including now Charles Woodson. They don’t win the turnover battle like they used to. They don’t run the ball well and their offensive line has been inconsistent. There’s still a lot to play out, but for now, I still have them in this spot.
Studs
QB Aaron Rodgers: 30 of 37 for 342 yards and 3 touchdowns, 1 spike, 1 drop, 118.0 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 9 of 40 drop backs (2 sacks, 1 scramble, 4 of 6, 1 drop)
RG Josh Sitton: Didn’t allow a pressure on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 19 yards on 1 attempt
C Jeff Saturday: Didn’t allow a pressure on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 11 yards on 13 attempt
RT Bryan Bulaga: Didn’t allow a pressure on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 11 yards on 3 attempt
WR Jordy Nelson: Caught 8 passes for 122 yards and a touchdown on 9 attempts on 40 pass snaps, 4.4 YAC per catch
WR Randall Cobb: Caught 8 passes for 89 yards on 8 attempts on 38 pass snaps, 3.0 YAC per catch
Duds
RB Alex Green: Rushed for 35 yards (30 after contact) on 20 carries, 3 broken tackles, caught 4 passes for 29 yards on 5 attempts, 1 drop
LT Marshall Newhouse: Allowed 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 3 quarterback hurries on 42 pass block snaps, 1 penalty
RE Jerel Worthy: 1 quarterback hurry on 31 pass rush snaps, 1 penalty, no tackles
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Seattle Seahawks: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#14)
Last week: 10 (-4)
Record: 4-3
I’m dropping Seattle from the playoffs in favor of Philadelphia this week, even though Philadelphia didn’t play. Seattle didn’t look particularly bad against San Francisco or anything, but I think Philadelphia is going to edge them out for that final NFC spot and I just changed my mind. Watching Russell Wilson and this terrible passing offense struggle to move the ball on Thursday Night didn’t help. They’ve got a great defense and can run the ball, but the NFC is a loaded conference so I have them just outside right now.
Seattle Seahawks
Studs
RB Marshawn Lynch: Rushed for 103 yards (61 after contact) on 19 attempts, 2 broken tackles, caught 1 pass for 13 yards on 2 attempts, 1 drop
C Max Unger: Allowed 1 quarterback hit on 28 pass block snaps, run blocked for 60 yards on 10 attempts
CB Brandon Browner: Allowed 1 catch for 4 yards on 2 attempts, 1 interception, 2 solo tackles, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
Duds
WR Golden Tate: Did not catch a pass on 3 attempts on 22 pass snaps, 1 drop
TE Zach Miller: Was not thrown to on 20 pass snaps, allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 2 pass block snaps
RT Breno Giacomini: Allowed 1 sack and 4 quarterback hurries on 28 pass block snaps
LE Red Bryant: Did not record a pressure on 17 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 2 stops
DT Alan Branch: Did not record a pressure on 18 pass rush snaps, no tackles
DT Brandon Mebane: Did not record a pressure on 18 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 penalty
RE Chris Clemons: 2 quarterback hurries on 22 pass rush snaps, 1 missed tackle
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Pittsburgh Steelers: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#15)
Last week: 16 (+1)
Record: 3-3
Whether or not the Steelers can make the playoffs really depends on when Troy Polamalu gets back. Their win last week was impressive, until you consider that the Bengals are very good. Without him, they’re a pretty average team overall, but with him, they can definitely make the playoffs. Since 2009, the Steelers are 8-9 in games without Troy Polamalu and allow 21.4 points per game. With him, they are 27-8, allowing 14.4 points per game. He’s already been ruled out for another week against a sneaky tough Washington team.
Studs
RB Jonathan Dwyer: Rushed for 122 yards (114 after contact) on 17 attempts, 4 broken tackles,
QB Ben Roethlisberger: 27 of 37 for 278 yards, 1 touchdown, and 1 interception, 1 throw away, 3 drops, 97.6 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 12 of 40 drop backs (3 sacks, 6 of 9, 1 touchdown, 2 drops)
C Doug Legursky: Did not allow a pressure on 42 pass block snaps, run blocked for 86 yards on 10 attempts
WR Antonio Brown: Caught 7 passes for 96 yards on 8 attempts on 38 pass snaps, 5.3 YAC per catch
CB Keenan Lewis: Allowed 2 catches for 16 yards on 5 attempts, 2 pass deflections, 3 solo tackles, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
CB Ike Taylor: Allowed 1 catch for 8 yards and a touchdown on 2 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 1 solo tackle, 1 assist
LOLB Lamarr Woodley: 1 interception, 2 quarterback hits on 19 pass rush snaps, 3 solo tackles, 3 stops
Studs
WR Mike Wallace: Caught 8 passes for 52 yards on 14 attempts on 38 pass snaps, 4.8 YAC per catch, 3 drops
MLB Larry Foote: 2 solo tackles, 4 assists, 1 stop, 1 quarterback hurry on 4 blitzes, didn’t allow a completion on 2 attempts
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Dallas Cowboys: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#16)
Last week: 15 (-1)
Record: 3-3
The Cowboys haven’t been playing well lately, but they get the Giants in Dallas this week and if they win, they’ll hold the season series and be tied with the Giants in the loss column. However, they’ll have to do it without middle linebacker Sean Lee, one of the league’s best linebackers, who is done for the year after having toe surgery. They’re a contender and one who grades out well in the important statistics, ranking 5th in yards per play differential and 7th in rate of sustaining drives differential, but right now I have them just out of it in the loaded NFC. There could be several 9 or even 10 win teams in the NFC who don’t make it in.
Studs
QB Tony Romo: 24 of 34 for 227 yards, 1 touchdown, 4 drops, 104.9 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 6 of 36 drop backs (1 scramble, 2 of 5, 1 drop)
LG Nate Livings: Did not allow a pressure on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 6 yards on 2 attempts
P Brian Moorman: 4 punts for 197 yards, 2 inside 20, 4 returns for 4 yards, 48.3 net yards per punt
Duds
LT Tyron Smith: Allowed 5 quarterback hurries on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards on 3 attempts
WR Dez Bryant: Caught 2 passes for 14 yards on 3 attempts on 31 pass snaps, 0.5 YAC per catch, 1 drop
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Washington Redskins: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#17)
Last week: 17 (+0)
Record: 3-4
This team is awfully snakebitten. They’ve lost 4 games all by a touchdown or fewer and all games in which they lost significant players to injury. Week 2, they lost Josh Wilson, Brian Orakpo, and Adam Carriker in a loss to St. Louis. In their loss to Cincinnati, they lost Trent Williams. In their loss to Atlanta, they lost Robert Griffin and last week they lost Fred Davis. Griffin, Wilson, and Williams are back, but the other 3 are done for the year. Pierre Garcon has barely played. Jammal Brown hasn’t played. Brandon Meriweather hasn’t played. Now London Fletcher could miss next week with a combination of hamstring problems and a concussion, which would snap his 231 consecutive games streak.
Studs
QB Robert Griffin: 20 of 28 for 258 yards, 2 touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 batted pass, 2 throw aways, 100.3 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 9 of 35 drop backs (3 sacks, 1 scramble, 4 of 5, 1 throw away), 9 carries for 89 yards, 2 fumbles
LT Trent Williams: Allowed 1 sack on 36 pass block snaps, run blocked for 16 yards on 1 attempt
Duds
FS Madieu Williams: Allowed 4 catches for 58 yards on 5 attempts, 5 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop
MLB London Fletcher: 3 solo tackles, 2 stops, 1 missed tackle, allowed 6 catches for 47 yards on 6 attempts
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Indianapolis Colts: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#18)
Last week: 18 (+1)
Record: 3-3
If the Colts can go into Tennessee and beat the Titans, who, by the way, have the league’s worst points differential, they’d stand at 4-3 in a horrible AFC. Their remaining schedule is as following: vs. Miami, @ Jacksonville, @ New England, vs. Buffalo, @ Detroit, vs. Tennessee, @ Houston, @ Kansas City, vs. Houston (who could be resting starters). Couldn’t they go 5-4 over those 9 games? 9-7 might do it in the AFC. 10-6 would definitely do it.
We’ve got a sleeper team for this year’s team to go from 5 wins or fewer to the playoffs. It’s between them, Miami, San Diego/Denver, and Pittsburgh for those 2 wild cards spots. The issue is that they rank 29th in yards per play differential and 18th in rate of sustaining drives differential, so stats would say they haven’t played that well. That’s why they’re a long shot, but it’s not outside the realm of possibility. The good news is they’re getting healthier finally.
Studs
LG Jeff Linkenbach: Did not allow a pressure on 37 pass block snaps, run blocked for 22 yards on 7 attempts
SS Antoine Bethea: Allowed 1 catch for 4 yards on 3 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 4 solo tackles, 2 assists
FS Tom Zbikowski: Allowed 1 catch for 2 yards on 3 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 1 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop
LOLB Jerry Hughes: 2 quarterback hits and 3 quarterback hurries on 35 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 stop
Duds
RE Drake Nevis: Did not record a pressure on 31 pass rush snaps, no tackles
LE Ricardo Mathews: Did not record a pressure on 28 pass rush snaps, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop
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New Orleans Saints: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#19)
Last week: 19 (+7)
Record: 2-4
The Saints are no longer the favorite to be this year’s team that goes from out of the playoffs to 5 wins or fewer, but they’re still not a playoff team or anything like that. Only one team has ever made the playoffs after starting 0-4. Drew Brees has gotten it together now that he’s used to not having Sean Payton around and I don’t think there was ever much doubt that would happen. In his last 3 games, he’s completed 91 of 136 for 11 touchdowns and 3 interceptions, 2 wins and a 1 point loss in Lambeau. He’s on pace to throw for 5592 yards, which would break his own record, and he has a legitimate chance to do so because of how often the Saints pass (he’s also on pace to shatter the record for passing attempts in a season). Drew Brees looks like Drew Brees.
The problem is everything else. This team isn’t back to normal. The defense is atrocious, allowing 30.2 points per game. Last year, when they won 13 games, they were 13th in the league in points allowed. They’re not that kind of team even if Drew Brees looks like Drew Brees again and for that reason they might be overrated right now. They really remind me of the 2008 Saints, when Brees threw for 5000 yards, but they finished 8-8 because they allowed 24.6 points per game, 26th in the league. They should finish somewhere in that 6-8 win range.
Studs
QB Drew Brees: 27 of 37 377 yards, 4 touchdowns, 1 interception, 1 spike, 2 throw aways, 1 drop, 118.6 adjusted QB rating, pressured on 3 of 38 drop backs (1 of 3, 1 throw away)
LG Ben Grubbs: Didn’t allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps, 1 penalty, run blocked for 24 yards and a touchdown on 8 attempts
C Brian La Puente: Didn’t allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps, run blocked for 26 yards and a touchdown on 9 attempts
RT Zach Strief: Didn’t allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps
WR Lance Moore: Caught 9 passes for 121 yards on 10 attempts on 27 pass snaps, 1.0 YAC per catch
LE Junior Galette: 1 sack and 4 quarterback hurries on 29 pass rush snaps, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops
P Thomas Morestead: 6 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks, 70.3 yards per kickoff, 21.3 opponent’s average starting distance, 4 punts for 205 yards, 2 inside 20, 2 returns for 15 yards, 47.5 net yards per punt
Duds
CB Patrick Robinson: Allowed 6 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown on 12 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 6 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 missed tackles
CB Corey White: Allowed 3 catches for 69 yards on 4 attempts, 2 solo tackles, 1 stop, 2 missed tackles
SS Roman Harper: Allowed 4 catches for 62 yards on 4 attempts, 5 solo tackles, 2 stops, 2 penalties, 1 quarterback hurry on 4 blitzes
MLB Curtis Lofton: 4 solo tackles, 1 assist, 3 stops, 3 missed tackles, allowed 3 catches for 23 yards and a touchdown on 3 attempts
RE Will Smith: 1 quarterback hurry on 47 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 2 solo tackles, 1 assist, 2 stops, 1 missed tackle
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St. Louis Rams: Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#20)
Last week: 18 (-2)
With the trade deadline upcoming this week, the Rams have reportedly made several veterans available for trade. It makes sense that one of these would be Steven Jackson because he’s really their only veteran. He’s got the option to opt out of his contract after this season and he’s already splitting carries and getting outperformed by rookie Daryl Richardson, who appears to be the future. I doubt anything happens because guys never get moved at the deadline, especially big name guys like Jackson, but it’s worth bringing up. A team like the Steelers who needs a short term veteran back seems like a good fit, if anything were to happen.
Studs
C Robert Turner: Did not allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps, run blocked for 15 yards on 5 attempts
RG Harvey Dahl: Did not allow a pressure on 38 pass block snaps
MLB James Laurinaitis: 11 solo tackles, 3 assists, 8 stops, allowed 3 catches for 31 yards on 4 attempts
SS Quentin Mikell: Was not thrown on, 7 solo tackles, 1 assist, 4 stops
RE Robert Quinn: 1 sack, 2 quarterback hits, and 3 quarterback hurries on 38 pass rush snaps, 1 assist, 1 stop, 1 missed tackle
K Greg Zuerlein: 5 kickoffs, 4 touchbacks, 74.0 yards per kickoff, 19.0 opponent’s average starting distance, 2/2 FG (43, 50)
Duds
TE Lance Kendricks: Caught 2 passes for 5 yards on 4 attempts on 29 pass snaps, 2.0 YAC per catch
CB Janoris Jenkins: Allowed 9 catches for 121 yards and a touchdown on 11 attempts, 8 solo tackles, 1 assist, 1 missed tackle
LOLB JoLonn Dunbar: 3 solo tackles, 2 assists, 3 stops, 3 missed tackles, allowed 5 catches for 40 yards on 5 attempts
LE Chris Long: Did not record a pressure on 38 pass rush snaps, 3 penalties, 1 solo tackle, 1 stop
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