2013 NFL Power Rankings

New York Jets: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#18)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Jets, Uncategorized

Last week: 26 (+8)

Record: 3-2

I know it doesn’t fit the narrative, but the Jets aren’t bad. I don’t think they are a playoff team, but this start isn’t a fluke. They can be a .500 team this year. They certainly have the defense, allowing opponents to move the chains on 68% of opportunities, one of the best rates in the NFL. They aren’t moving the ball well offensively (67%) because of the inconsistencies of rookie Geno Smith, but there’s no question he’s been brilliant at times this year, though he has throwing more interceptions than touchdowns.

Week 5 Studs

LE Muhammad Wilkerson

DT Damon Harrison

ROLB Garrett McIntyre

Week 5 Duds

ROLB Quinton Coples

MLB David Harris

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Atlanta Falcons: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#19)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Falcons, Uncategorized

Last week: 18 (-1)

Record: 1-4

I had the Falcons at 8 wins before the season, but the sheer amount of injuries they’ve suffered have made even that really optimistic. Kroy Biermann and Julio Jones are out for the season. Sean Weatherspoon is out for most of the season. Steven Jackson is still out, while Roddy White’s injuries have gotten worse as a hamstring injury has been added to his ankle injury, which has him out indefinitely. It probably won’t happen, but they should trade Tony Gonzalez, save some money and get a pick for a guy who is retiring after the season anyway. Plus, they would get themselves some good karma and send him somewhere where he can actually win a Super Bowl like New England or Kansas City.

Week 5 Studs

LG Justin Blalock

TE Tony Gonzalez

Week 5 Duds

LOLB Joplo Bartu

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Arizona Cardinals: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#20)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Cardinals, Uncategorized

Last week: 20 (+0)

Record: 3-2

The Cardinals are 3-2 right now. That isn’t a huge shock. They had an over/under for their win total of 5.5 and teams with totals under 6 hit the over about 2/3rds of the time (Oakland and Jacksonville also had totals under 6 this year). A lot of times, bad teams are better than people think and I think the Cardinals have proved that. That being said, I haven’t been that impressed with them and I don’t think they are a legitimate playoff contender.

Week 5 Studs

RE Calais Campbell

MLB Daryl Washington

Week 5 Duds

TE Rob Housler

ROLB John Abraham

MLB Karlos Dansby

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Cleveland Browns: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#22)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Browns, Uncategorized

Last week: 24 (+2)

Record: 3-2

Poor Browns. I really feel bad for them. They had a good quarterback for 3 games. But the dream is over. It’s time to wake up. Brandon Weeden is your quarterback again. Brian Hoyer won’t be back until 2014 at the earlier. They’d be a lot higher on here if it wasn’t for the Hoyer injury, but I don’t see any way that Weeden, as good as he looked in a half against a banged up Buffalo secondary, gets this team into the playoffs, even with a solid supporting cast.

Week 5 Studs

QB Brandon Weeden

RE Desmond Bryant

Week 5 Duds

RG Shawn Lauvao

TE Gary Barnidge

MLB D’Qwell Jackson

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San Diego Chargers: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#23)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Chargers, Uncategorized

Last week: 19 (-4)

Record: 2-3

Philip Rivers threw 3 interceptions against the Raiders in a loss, but it was inevitable that he’d starting throwing interceptions at a higher rate, after throwing just 2 in his first 4 games. However, he’s still been very impressive, completing 73.7% of his passes for an average of 8.5 YPA, 13 touchdowns, and 5 interceptions, as the offense moves the chains on a very impressive 81% of opportunities. He’s doing that without much of a supporting cast. However, the defense is pathetic, allowing opponents to move the chains on 82% of opportunities. They were even worse against the Raiders with Dwight Freeney now out for the season. They made Terrelle Pryor look like John Elway.

Week 5 Studs

WR Vincent Brown

RT DJ Fluker

Week 5 Duds

LE Kendall Reyes

DT Cam Thomas

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Philadelphia Eagles: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#24)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Eagles, Uncategorized

Last week: 23 (-1)

Record: 2-3

The Eagles blew out the Giants in New York this week, but that’s not really that impressive. Even after facing the Giants’ pathetic offense, they have allowed 133 first downs to 18 punts forced and they are allowing opponents to move the chains on 82% of opportunities, tied for worst in the NFL. Offensively, Michael Vick is out for at least a week (this is my shocked face), but the Eagles’ offense shouldn’t be worse without him. They’ll definitely look different, but Chip Kelly can run his offense with a bunch of different types of quarterbacks. Like he was doing with Vick, he’ll make Foles look better than he is.

Week 5 Studs

RB LeSean McCoy

Week 5 Duds

C Jason Kelce

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New York Giants: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#26)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Giants, Uncategorized

Last week: 21 (-5)

Record: 0-5

Losing at home to the Eagles is pretty bad. They can’t block, run the football, or stop anyone (opponents are moving the chains against them 79% of the time). That being said, they have more talent than most 0-5 teams do. They are getting killed in turnovers. At -13 through 5 games, they are averaging -2.6 per game, a -42 pace, which would destroy the modern day record of -30. Even if they are destined to become the worst turnover margin team in NFL history (I don’t think they will be), they’ll be significantly better in this aspect going forward. Things will get better in this aspect going forward. Eli Manning won’t continue throwing interceptions at a rate nearly twice his career rate (5.9% on the season, 3.3% on his career). They also won’t continue recovering just 28.6% of fumbles. They could be underrated going forward.

Week 5 Studs

LG Kevin Boothe

DT Cullen Jenkins

DT Johnathan Hankins

DT Mike Patterson

Week 5 Duds

RG David Diehl

LE Mathias Kiwanuka

SS Antrel Rolle

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Buffalo Bills: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#27)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings, Bills, Uncategorized

Last week: 27 (+0)

Record: 2-3

The Bills would be higher if I trusted Thad Lewis/Jeff Tuel at all going forward. The Bills have the worst quarterback situation in the NFL for the next 6-8 weeks as their choices are an undrafted rookie in Jeff Tuel (who went 8 of 20 for 80 yards and a pick six against Cleveland), a practice squad quarterback in Thad Lewis, or someone they sign off the streets like Pat White or David Carr. Fortunately, on the other side of the ball, Jairus Byrd and Stephon Gilmore, two talented defensive backs, return this week to a defense that has done a great job of stopping teams without much talent in their secondary. Opponents have moved the chains on just 70% of opportunities this season.

Week 5 Studs

ROLB Manny Lawson

DT Marcell Dareus

MLB Kiko Alonso

Week 5 Duds

QB Jeff Tuel

RT Erik Pears

CB Aaron Williams

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