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Detroit Lions: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#10)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Lions, Uncategorized

Last week: 9 (-1)

Record: 4-3

I said before the game that the Lions and Bengals were as evenly matched as two teams could be and the Bengals won by a field goal. Still, the Lions have the inside track for a playoff spot in the NFC. They still have an explosive offense that moves the chains at a 78% rate and a decent defense that moves the chains at a 75% rate.

Week 7 Studs

WR Calvin Johnson

DT Ndamukong Suh

Week 7 Duds

RG Larry Warford

TE Brandon Pettigrew

RE Ezekiel Ansah

LE Willie Young

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Dallas Cowboys: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#11)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Cowboys, Uncategorized

Last week: 11 (+0)

Record: 4-3

I don’t know where that defensive effort came from. The Cowboys, who were getting destroyed defensively all season, gave up just 3 points to a previously pretty solid Philadelphia offense on the road, despite missing DeMarcus Ware. They forced the Eagles’ quarterback combination of Nick Foles and Matt Barkley to 22 of 49 for 194 yards and 3 picks. I’m very skeptical they can maintain this level of play without Ware, but he could be back this week. His return, along with DeMarco Murray’s return, will be key for this team’s chances of not just winning, but running away with the division.

Week 7 Studs

TE Jason Witten

LE George Selvie

DT Jason Hatcher

MLB Sean Lee

CB Brandon Carr

FS Barry Church

Week 7 Duds

RT Doug Free

C Travis Frederick

RE Jason Vega

DT Jason Hatcher

SS JJ Wilcox

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Carolina Panthers: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#12)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Panthers, Uncategorized

Last week: 15 (-3)

Record: 3-3

The Panthers are much better than their record. Only 4 teams (Denver, Kansas City, New Orleans, Seattle) have better point differentials than the Panthers, who are 2nd in the NFL to only Kansas City in points per game allowed. They are moving the chains at an 80% rate, as opposed to 71% for their opponents, a differential is 2nd best in the NFL. They are a few plays away from being 5-1. They have 3 losses, but they are only a half game out of a playoff spot in the NFC and tied in the loss column. If they can avoid more close losses (easier said than done for this team), they could easily be a playoff team.

Week 7 Studs

QB Cam Newton

LG Travelle Wharton

DT Star Lotulelei

Week 7 Duds

RG Chris Scott

C Ryan Kalil

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Baltimore Ravens: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#13)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Ravens, Uncategorized

Last week: 12 (-1)

Record: 3-4

The Ravens are 3-4, but remember that they were favored just twice in their first 7 games, so they’ve actually exceeded expectations. In their final 9 games, they will be favored at least 5 times, maybe 6 or 7. They host the Jets, the Steelers, the Vikings, Bengals and go to Cleveland, all games in which they will definitely be favored. They also host the Patriots and go to the possibly Cutler-less Bears. They still have a very good chance at a playoff spot.

Week 7 Studs

LT Eugene Monroe

LG Kelechi Osemele

RG Marshal Yanda

Week 7 Duds

None

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Tennessee Titans: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#14)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Titans, Uncategorized

Last week: 14 (+0)

Record: 3-4

The Titans brought back Jake Locker this week surprisingly, even though he was not supposed to return until after their week 8 bye. That wasn’t a great idea as Locker didn’t look comfortable. His stats were fine, as he completed 25 of 41 for 326 yards, 2 touchdowns, and an interception, but he didn’t play that well in a 31-17 loss. It would have just been smarter to hold him out another game and give him 2 more weeks to rest. Ryan Fitzpatrick wouldn’t have been much worse than Locker was this week.

Week 7 Studs

LG Andy Levitre

ROLB Akeem Ayers

CB Jason McCourty

Week 7 Duds

C Brian Schwenke

LE Lavar Edwards

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Chicago Bears: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#15)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Bears, Uncategorized

Last week: 13 (-2)

Record: 4-3

The Bears’ defense continues to be terrible and is only getting worse after allowing 5 touchdowns in Washington this week. They are allowing opponents to move the chains at a 77% rate. Now Jay Cutler is out for at least 4 weeks with a torn groin. The Bears are 4-3, but they have a negative rate of moving the chains differential and face Green Bay, Detroit, and Baltimore in the next 3 games. They could be 4-3 going on 4-6.

Week 7 Studs

TE Martellus Bennett

LOLB Lance Briggs

Week 7 Duds

RT Jordan Mills

DT Stephen Paea

MLB Jon Bostic

FS Chris Conte

SS Major Wright

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Houston Texans: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#16)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Texans, Uncategorized

Last week: 16 (+0)

Record: 2-5

I was obviously skeptical about Case Keenum, an undrafted 2nd year player who had never played a snap. However, he did some nice things in the 1 point loss in Kansas City, completing 15 of 25 for 271 yards and a touchdown against arguably the best defense in the NFL. He did some bad things as well, particularly his struggles reading the blitz, but that could improve with experience. I’ve defended Matt Schaub for a while and I don’t believe he’s as bad as he looked to start the season, but Keenum has done enough to deserve another look after the bye. I’m skeptical he’s the long-term answer, but at 2-5, it’s worth playing him until he fails.

Week 7 Studs

LE JJ Watt

MLB Brian Cushing

CB Kareem Jackson

Week 7 Duds

QB Case Keenum

RT Derek Newton

C Chris Myers

ROLB Whitney Mercilus

CB Brice McCain

FS Ed Reed

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San Diego Chargers: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#17)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Chargers, Uncategorized

Last week: 21 (-4)

Record: 4-3

An 18 point win in Jacksonville doesn’t sound that impressive, but this is a franchise used to letdown games after big wins in the Norv Turner era. They had one this year in new Head Coach Mike McCoy, losing in Oakland after beating Dallas, but they avoided it in a big way last week. They are still moving the chains at an incredible rate offensively, 83%, only behind Denver in that aspect. They aren’t great defensively, as opponents move the chains at a 79% rate, but their differential is still 8th in the NFL. Mike McCoy deserves a ton of credit for leading a team that doesn’t have a ton of talent to some impressive things and he deserves some Coach of the Year votes, especially if the Chargers can make an improbable playoff run in the AFC.

Week 7 Studs

QB Philip Rivers

LG Johnnie Troutman

SS Marcus Gilchrist

Week 7 Duds

TE Antonio Gates

CB Johnny Patrick

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New York Jets: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#18)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Jets, Uncategorized

Last week: 20 (+2)

Record: 4-3

You can question the result of the Jets’ win over the Patriots because of that obscure penalty, but the takeaways from that game should not change depending on the results. The defense remains strong, holding Tom Brady under 50% completion despite the return of Rob Gronkowski and returning an interception to the house. Geno Smith did some nice things, but also threw a pick six and remains an inconsistent rookie quarterback. This season is promising for the Jets going forward, but they might be a year of consistent Geno Smith development away from being a legitimate playoff contender.

Week 8 Studs

WR Jeremy Kerley

WR David Nelson

LE Muhammad Wilkerson

LOLB Calvin Pace

Week 8 Duds

RB Chris Ivory

FB Tommy Bohanan

LG Brian Winters

C Nick Mangold

ROLB Quinton Coples

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Miami Dolphins: 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings (#19)

stevenlourie 2013 NFL Power Rankings, 2013 Week 8 NFL Power Rankings, Dolphins, Uncategorized

Last week: 17 (-2)

Record: 3-3

Remember when the Dolphins started 3-0 and everyone thought they were awesome? I pointed out that 22 of 32 teams last year win at least 3 games in a row at some point, including the 7-9 Dolphins. Doing it at the beginning of the season makes it more noticeable, but not necessarily more impressive. In 2011, the Bills started 3-0 and the Cardinals started 4-0 in 2012. The Dolphins probably won’t finish that bad, but I don’t think they are a realistic playoff contender in the AFC. They have been worse than their 3-3 record, as they are moving the chains at a 70% rate, as opposed to 76% for their opponents, a differential that is 29th in the NFL. Ryan Tannehill’s development has been stunted by 26 sacks in 6 games. That makes it very tough to move the chains consistently. Bryant McKinnie is coming in, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll be a significant upgrade. There’s a reason he was a healthy scratch towards the end of his tenure in Baltimore.

Week 7 Studs

DT Jared Odrick

DT Randy Starks

Week 7 Duds

RT Tyson Clabo

TE Charles Clay

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