Last week: 7 (+0)
Record: 9-0
On bye.
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2013 NFL Power Rankings
Indianapolis Colts: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#8)
Last week: 8 (+0)
Record: 6-3
There are definitely some fluky aspects to the Colts’ loss to the Rams. The Rams led just one methodical touchdown drive, scoring on two return touchdowns, and two long passing touchdowns. That forced the Colts to give up their game plan and put them out of their comfort zone. Since 1989, 5 teams have won a game by 25 or more despite losing the first down battle by 9 or more. 2 of them are the 2013 Rams. The Colts were clearly distracted by their upcoming game with the Titans on Thursday. However, the Colts certainly didn’t play well fluky things aside and they haven’t really played well over the past 2 weeks without Reggie Wayne. It’s a concern going forward. We’ll see how they play against the Titans.
Week 10 Studs
LE Cory Redding
ROLB Robert Mathis
Week 10 Duds
QB Andrew Luck
RG Mike McGlynn
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Detroit Lions: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#9)
Last week: 9 (+0)
Record: 6-3
The Lions are 6-3 and could easily be favored in their final 7 games, unless Aaron Rodgers somehow comes back for their Thanksgiving game, which is unlikely. Unless they get complacent and flop down the stretch, this is the clear favorite to win the NFC North and end up in the 3 seed in the NFC. They could easily go from 4-12 to 12-4 and they haven’t actually played much better. Last season, they were killed by turnovers (-16), inability to recover fumbles (32.6%), return touchdowns (-10 touchdowns), and inability to win close games (3-8 in games decided by a touchdown or less). This year, they are +1 in turnovers, recover 39.1% of fumbles (which will probably still improve going forward), +1 in return touchdowns, and 3-2 in games decided by a touchdown or less. The narrative is that they’ve learned how to be a less sloppy team, but, at the end of the day, those things are all very random.
Week 10 Studs
QB Matt Stafford
RT LaAdrian Waddle
DT Ndamukong Suh
MLB Stephen Tulloch
Week 10 Duds
CB Darius Slay
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Cincinnati Bengals: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#10)
Last week: 10 (+0)
Record: 6-4
The Bengals aren’t the same team on the road, losing in Chicago, Cleveland, Miami, and Baltimore and almost losing in Detroit and Buffalo. However, they are a dominant home team that is undefeated at home this season in 4 games and 4 of their final 6 games are winnable home games (Baltimore, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Minnesota). Because of that, they can make it into the playoffs without winning another home game, thanks to two close road victory. They’ll be shaky in the playoffs though because I don’t trust Andy Dalton and because they aren’t the same team without Geno Atkins and Leon Hall.
Week 10 Studs
LOLB Vontaze Burfict
MLB Vincent Rey
DT Brandon Thompson
Week 10 Duds
QB Andy Dalton
TE Tyler Eifert
FS Reggie Nelson
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Green Bay Packers: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#11)
Last week: 11 (+0)
Record: 5-4
The Packers just can’t catch a break. Seneca Wallace struggled mightily in relief of an injured Aaron Rodgers against the Bears, completing 11 of 19 for 114 yards and an interception, which makes sense considering he was unprepared. He started out better against Philadelphia, but then got hurt, which led to an even more unprepared Scott Tolzien coming into the game, 6 days removed from the practice squad. He completed 24 of 39 for 280 yards, 1 touchdown, and 2 interceptions. Tolzien is now the starter going forward, until Rodgers comes back, with Wallace going on IR. He’ll have more preparation time this week going into New York and has easy games against the Giants and Vikings, before they go to Detroit on Thanksgiving. They won’t win that game without Rodgers though and they probably won’t win the division without winning that game. That will leave them fighting for a wild card in the loaded NFC.
Week 10 Studs
RT Don Barclay
LG Josh Sitton
LE Mike Daniels
CB Tramon Williams
Week 10 Duds
RT Marshall Newhouse
RE BJ Raji
ROLB Clay Matthews
LOLB Mike Neal
MLB Brad Jones
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Chicago Bears: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#12)
Last week: 13 (+1)
Record: 5-4
Another one bites the dust on the Bears’ defense. Before the season, the Bears had 6 above average or better starters, Julius Peppers, Henry Melton, Lance Briggs, Tim Jennings, Charles Tillman, and Major Wright. Henry Melton is already out for the season. Charles Tillman is now out until the playoffs, if they can make them. Lance Briggs is out indefinitely. None of those guys were playing up to their ability before going down anyway. Julius Peppers is showing his age and Major Wright is regressing in a major way. They are allowing opponents to move the chains at a 77% rate, which could only get worse thanks to injuries. Injuries, age, and departed coordinators have derailed a one proud defense in the worst way. They’ll need Josh McCown to continue playing well as Cutler’s backup to stay relevant with Cutler out indefinitely as well. He was not ready to return from his groin tear last week and now has a high ankle sprain as well.
Week 10 Studs
WR Brandon Marshall
Week 10 Duds
RB Matt Forte
LG Matt Slauson
LE David Bass
DT Corey Wootton
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San Diego Chargers: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#13)
Last week: 15 (+2)
Record: 4-5
There’s no shame in losing at home by 8 to the Broncos, especially when you match them score for score, but lose because you had to settle for two field goals. It’s no surprise the Chargers were able to move the ball with the Broncos, because their rate of moving the chains is 2nd only to Denver (82%). Their defense, which allows opponents to move the chains at an 80% rate, is a huge problem, but the AFC is weak enough that they could still sneak a playoff spot. The big concern is that King Dunlap might have suffered his 3rd concussion of the season, which could put him out a while. The cheap free agent signing has been one of the better left tackles in the game this season.
Week 10 Studs
None
Week 10 Duds
TE Antonio Gates
CB Shareece Wright
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Tennessee Titans: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#14)
Last week: 12 (-2)
Record: 4-5
The Titans lost at home to the Jaguars, but you can’t really blame them for not getting up for a winless team with a Thursday Night clash with the Colts upcoming. Even the Colts were caught looking forward to that matchup in a big way. They did lose Jake Locker, but Ryan Fitzpatrick played admirably in his absence, as they played both Kansas City and Seattle tough. Locker wasn’t why this team is in the hunt. Fitzpatrick can rely on a stout defense led by Alterraun Verner and Jurrell Casey to keep them in the hunt with an easier schedule upcoming. They’ll still be favored in at least 4 of their final 7 games and if they can win those games and pull one upset, they’d be in the driver’s seat for a playoff spot with a tiebreaker over the Chargers and Jets.
Week 10 Studs
LT Michael Roos
LG Andy Levitre
LE Derrick Morgan
LE Ropati Pitoitua
DT Antonio Johnson
DT Jurrell Casey
Week 10 Duds
QB Jake Locker
RB Chris Johnson
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New York Jets: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#15)
Last week: 16 (+1)
Record: 5-4
On bye.
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Arizona Cardinals: 2013 Week 11 NFL Power Rankings (#16)
Last week: 19 (+3)
Record: 5-4
It might sound crazy, but if the 49ers lose in New Orleans this week, and the Cardinals win in Jacksonville, they’ll have the same record at 6-4. I don’t expect that to hold until the end of the season, but the Cardinals are a solid football team. They’ve beaten both Detroit and Carolina, two likely playoff teams, this season. Ultimately, poor quarterback play in the loaded NFC will probably keep them out, but they shouldn’t be taken lightly at all.
Week 10 Studs
RE Calais Campbell
LOLB John Abraham
MLB Karlos Dansby
Week 10 Duds
RT Eric Winston
LG Daryn Colledge
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