2013 NFL Power Rankings

St. Louis Rams: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#28)

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Last week: 28 (+0)

Record: 2-3

Beating the Jaguars isn’t impressive. It ended an awful stretch for the Rams, in which they trailed Atlanta 21-0 early before injuries and garbage time, they lost 31-7 to the Cowboys, and they lost 35-11 to the 49ers. That being said, I don’t think any higher of them than I did before last week and now they go on a very tough stretch, starting with a trip to Houston this week. After that, they play Carolina, Seattle, Tennessee, Indianapolis, Chicago, and San Francisco.

Week 5 Studs

RT Joe Barksdale

RE Robert Quinn

DT Michael Brockers

Week 5 Duds

LOLB Alec Ogletree

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Oakland Raiders: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#30)

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Last week: 30 (+1)

I circled 4 games I thought the Raiders could win before the season and so far they’ve both two of them (home games against the Titans and Eagles were the other two). That being said, the Raiders are definitely better than I thought they’d be. Credit goes to Dennis Allen and Reggie McKenzie for assembling a passable roster with 50 million dollars of dead money on their cap.

Week 5 Studs

RG Mike Brisiel

DT Vance Walker

Week 5 Duds

LE Jason Hunter

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Jacksonville Jaguars: 2013 Week 6 NFL Power Rankings (#32)

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Last week: 32 (+0)

Record: 0-5

The Jaguars essentially waved the wave flag on this season and on Blaine Gabbert when they traded Eugene Monroe to the Ravens. Their goal this season was to evaluate Blaine Gabbert with a better offensive line, after drafting Luke Joeckel 2nd overall. However, trading Monroe just to get something for him before he became a free agent this off-season, gives up on that goal. It was the right move and it gave Luke Joeckel a chance to take the blindside spot he’s supposed to hold for the next 10 years, but he broke his ankle and is out for the season. The season is done. Blaine Gabbert is done.

Week 5 Studs

WR Cecil Shorts

Week 5 Duds

QB Blaine Gabbert

LT Cameron Bradfield

RG Uche Nwaneri

RE Jason Babin

LE Tyson Alualu

MLB Paul Posluszny

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Seattle Seahawks: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#1)

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Last week: 1

Record: 4-0

The Broncos have a higher points differential than the Seahawks (88 to 62), but the Seahawks have a better ratio of points for and points against than the Broncos, scoring 109 points to 47 points for their opponents (2.32), as opposed to 179 points for the Broncos, as opposed to 91 points for their opponents (1.97). The Seahawks have arguably played the tougher schedule, as well. They could absolutely beat Denver on a neutral field. They have the secondary to limit Denver’s passing offense and are better suited to winning a game in the cold later in the season, particularly in a cold weather Super Bowl.

Week 4 Studs

C Lemuel Jeanpierre

LE Red Bryant

LE Cliff Avril

RE Michael Bennett

DT Brandon Mebane

Week 4 Studs

RT Michael Bowie

RG JR Sweezy

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Denver Broncos: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#2)

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Last week: 2

Record: 4-0

You could definitely call the Broncos 1b to the Seahawks’ 1a. I have the Broncos 2nd here. I think in a cold weather Super Bowl, the Seahawks would be at an advantage. That being said, the Broncos are playing out of their minds right now. Peyton Manning is completing 75.0% of his passes for an average of 9.4 YPA, 16 touchdowns, and no interceptions. He won’t play THIS well all season, but he and the Broncos have a very good chance to break the touchdown record (50), the yardage record (5476), and the points record (589).

Week 4 Studs

QB Peyton Manning

WR Demaryius Thomas

LT Chris Clark

RT Orlando Franklin

RG Louis Vasquez

Week 4 Duds

CB Tony Carter

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New Orleans Saints: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#3)

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Last week: 3

Record: 4-0

Right now, I think the Saints are the 3rd best team in the NFL and could compete with Seattle or Denver on a neutral field. They are 3rd in the NFL in terms of moving the chains, doing so on 81% of chances. A strong offense is nothing new in New Orleans. Even with Sean Payton gone last year, the Saints were 4th in the NFL in points scored behind only the Patriots and Broncos. However, they are also playing very well on defense, allowing opponents to move the chains on just 66% of chances, 3rd best in the NFL. This is a huge change from last year, when they allowed the 2nd most points per game in the league and surrendered the most yards in NFL history. They are +15% in differential in terms moving the chains, as opposed to how often their opponents are. That’s the best in the NFL through 4 games.

Week 4 Studs

QB Drew Brees

ROLB Junior Galette

Week 4 Duds

None

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New England Patriots: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#4)

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Last week: 4

Record: 4-0

Are the Patriots lucky to be 4-0? Absolutely. They’ve had a very easy schedule and 3 of their wins have come by a touchdown or less. That being said, being 4-0 is certainly better than being 2-2 and things will only get better for the Patriots going forward as they start to get weapons back, starting likely with Danny Amendola this week. If the Patriots are at close to full strength later in the season for a home game against the Broncos, I don’t know why they couldn’t go toe to toe with Manning and win that game.

Week 4 Studs

LT Nate Solder

C Ryan Wendell

CB Aqib Talib

Week 4 Duds

None

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San Francisco 49ers: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#5)

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Last week: 5

Record: 2-2

They still have issues, which I why I’m not moving them back up, but the 49ers looked as good as I knew they were against the Rams, blowing them out 35-11 in St. Louis. Now they have 10 days before a big Sunday Night Football matchup with the Texans. They should continue to play well and prove their rough start was a fluke, especially with Patrick Willis expected to return.

Week 4 Studs

FB Bruce Miller

LT Joe Staley

LG Mike Iupati

DT Glenn Dorsey

MLB NaVorro Bowman

CB Tarell Brown

Week 4 Duds

QB Colin Kaepernick

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