2013 NFL Power Rankings

Tennessee Titans: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#16)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Titans, Uncategorized

Last week: 16

Record: 3-1

The Titans would be higher on this list if Jake Locker weren’t out for 4-6 weeks with a hip problem. That hurts their playoff chances. Fortunately, they have a strong supporting cast, particularly on defense, where the NFL’s worst unit in 2012, in terms of points per game allowed, is allowing just 17.3 points per game and a 69% rate of moving the chains. Hypothetically, if backup Ryan Fitzpatrick could avoid turnovers, they would still be in position to make the playoffs when Locker returns, but Fitzpatrick couldn’t be trusted to do that in Buffalo, forcing things downfield when he doesn’t have the arm strength necessary to complete those passes.

Week 4 Studs

LT Michael Roos

DT Karl Klug

CB Alterraun Verner

Week 4 Duds

RB Chris Johnson

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Miami Dolphins: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#17)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Dolphins, Uncategorized

Last week: 17

Record: 3-1

I said last week that starting 3-0 didn’t necessarily mean you were a good team. 22 of 32 teams won 3+ games in a row at some point last season, including the Dolphins, who finished 7-9. The Dolphins certainly didn’t look for real in a blowout loss to the Saints in New Orleans. Their offensive line is a huge problem, particularly right tackle Tyson Clabo, who is either showing his age and/or does not fit the zone blocking scheme. Defensively, they haven’t even been as good as they were supposed to, allowing opponents to move the chains at a very high 79% rate. Ryan Tannehill has definitely taken a big leap forward in his 2nd year in the league and that’s why the Dolphins can compete for a playoff spot in the AFC, but any talk of them being a serious competitor to a vulnerable Patriots team in the AFC East was premature.

Week 4 Studs

C Mike Pouncey

Week 4 Duds

WR Mike Wallace

RT Tyson Clabo

LOLB Philip Wheeler

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Atlanta Falcons: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#18)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Falcons, Uncategorized

Last week: 14 (-4)

Record: 1-3

The Falcons may have made it a touchdown game with the Patriots, but it wasn’t nearly as close as that would have suggested. After the Patriots scored their last touchdown, giving them a 30-13 lead, the Falcons’ win probability was about 1%, with the ball on their own 20, down 17, with 6:18 left to go. It took an onside kick recover to even make it competitive. This is a team that ordinarily dominates at home and off of a loss, but they’re as bad as they’ve been since before the Matt Ryan/Mike Smith era this season. Injuries have hurt (Sean Weatherspoon, Sam Baker, Asante Samuel, Kroy Biermann), but odds are they probably would not have been a playoff team either way.

Week 4 Studs

QB Matt Ryan

LG Justin Blalock

TE Tony Gonzalez

Week 4 Duds

WR Roddy White

DT Peria Jerry

DT Jonathan Babineaux

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

San Diego Chargers: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#19)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Chargers, Uncategorized

Last week: 26 (+7)

Record: 2-2

The job Head Coach Mike McCoy has done with the offense in his first season with the team is amazing. Despite a largely replacement level supporting cast around a declining Philip Rivers, McCoy has the Chargers moving the ball at an incredible rate, moving the chains on 82% of opportunities, only behind Denver and Indianapolis. The resurgence of Philip Rivers has a ton to do with it. Rivers looks like his pre-2011 self, completing 73.9% of his passes for an average of 8.4 YPA, 11 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions, despite a lack of talent around him (they didn’t have a single offensive player on my top-200 players list in August). The problem is the defensive side of the ball, which has almost as little talent. They are allowing opponents to move the chains 84% of the time. Only Philadelphia is worse. Still, they are no pushover because of their ability to put points on the board and sustain drives.

Week 4 Studs

QB Philip Rivers

RB Ryan Mathews

LG Johnnie Troutman

RT DJ Fluker

C Nick Hardwick

Week 4 Duds

MLB Donald Butler

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Arizona Cardinals: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#20)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Cardinals, Uncategorized

Last week: 21 (+1)

Record: 2-2

Daryl Washington returns this week from suspension and it’s pretty ridiculous that he gets to play while Von Miller continues to be suspended. Not only did Washington fail a drug test, he is also accused of assaulting his girlfriend and breaking her collarbone. He hasn’t been proven guilty yet (his trial is October 9th), but if convicted, he deserves a lengthy suspension. The length of suspension for drugs is disproportionally short to the length of suspensions for violence. The NFL should not tolerate this kind of thing, especially against women.

Week 4 Studs

RE Matt Shaughnessy

LE Frostee Rucker

CB Patrick Peterson

Week 4 Duds

RB Rashard Mendenhall

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

New York Giants: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#21)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Giants, Uncategorized

Last week: 18 (-3)

Record: 0-4

Like with the Steelers, the Giants have not won a game and are ranked ahead of teams that have won games. Again, if you want teams sorted by record, go to ESPN.com’s NFL Standings (or their NFL Power Rankings because they’re pretty much the same thing). Any talk of firing Tom Coughlin (or Mike Tomlin for that matter) is absurd. If the Giants had lost to the Cowboys week 17 in 2011 and missed the playoffs, rather than winning that 2nd Super Bowl, I kind of would have understands the calls for his job, but after he won that 2nd Super Bowl, he guaranteed himself job security for life. He’s signed to an expensive contract through 2014, which he signed after the 2nd Super Bowl season, and may retire at the end of next season, though he’s earned the right to continue coaching if he chooses to.

Week 4 Studs

DT Mike Patterson

CB Prince Amukamara

Week 4 Duds

RG James Brewer

TE Brandon Myers

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Washington Redskins: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#22)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Commanders, Uncategorized

Last week: 24 (+2)

Record: 1-3

The Redskins won their first game of the season in Oakland, but honestly I wasn’t that impressed with them. They should have blown out the Matt Flynn led Raiders, but they didn’t, as their offense mustered just 24 points (7 off of a return) against a replacement level Raiders defense. Fortunately for them, they have a bye week to get things sorted out and are only 1 game back of the division lead, with the division leader facing the Broncos this week.

Week 4 Studs

LT Trent Williams

ROLB Brian Orakpo

Week 4 Duds

TE Logan Paulsen

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Philadelphia Eagles: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#23)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Eagles, Uncategorized

Last week: 23

Record: 1-3

The Eagles have still really only looked good in that one half against an awful Washington defense. They looked competitive with the Broncos early on, but were kicking field goals instead of scoring touchdowns in the first half, which is not how you beat the Broncos. Down big in the 2nd half, they couldn’t do anything to keep it close. It’s not Chip Kelly’s fault. He has a defense that continues to be terrible, forcing a league worst 11 punts, while his quarterback is turnover prone and has problems converting in the red zone. He’ll do a better job with better personnel in 2014 and beyond.

Week 4 Studs

None

Week 4 Duds

RT Lane Johnson

MLB DeMeco Ryans

CB Cary Williams

FS Earl Wolff

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Cleveland Browns: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#24)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Browns, Uncategorized

Last week: 29 (+5)

Record: 2-2

The Browns have somehow vaulted to the top of the AFC North two weeks after losing Brandon Weeden to injury and trading Trent Richardson to the Colts. While it’s not a surprise that they wouldn’t miss Brandon Weeden that much, I don’t think anyone was expecting Brian Hoyer to play well enough to mask the loss of Trent Richardson. After 33 first downs to 13 punts in the first 2 games of the season, the Browns have 41 first downs to 10 punts in the past 2 games, while turning the ball over 5 times (included failed 4th downs) to 7 times in the first 2 games. Hoyer’s performance against the Vikings could have been seen as a fluke, but after they knocked off the Bengals last week, it’s time to believe in Brian Hoyer a little bit. He’s not great, but he’s the best quarterback the Browns have had in 5 years. This has allowed their defense to shine.

Week 5 Studs

RT Mitchell Schwartz

Week 5 Duds

LG John Greco

ROLB Barkevious Mingo

MLB Craig Robertson

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

Pittsburgh Steelers: 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings (#25)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 5 NFL Power Rankings, Steelers, Uncategorized

Last week: 22 (-3)

Record: 0-4

Yes, I know the Steelers have won a game and are higher rated than teams that have won games. If you want teams sorted by record, go to ESPN.com’s NFL Standings (or their NFL Power Rankings because they’re pretty much the same thing). The Steelers are not a good team by any stretch of the imagination, but they are going to be a more dangerous opponent going forward than any of the teams below them on this list. Having a quarterback like Ben Roethlisberger is often a trump card.

Week 4 Studs

WR Antonio Brown

TE Heath Miller

TE David Johnson

Week 4 Duds

LT Mike Adams

MLB Vince Williams

CB Cortez Allen

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub]

[switch_ad_hub}