Seth's NFL Rankings After Week 16

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

1. New England Patriots - The pursuit of perfection still continues as the "dastardly" Patriots beat the Miami Dolphins becoming the first team in NFL history to go 15-0 in a regular season. With the gravity of what we may be witnessing, the NFL Network is allowing the Pats' Saturday Night Game against the Giants to be simulcasted on NBC and CBS. This will be the first time an NFL game has been simulcast since Super Bowl I back in 1967.

2. Indianapolis Colts - The Colts got a convincing victory over the Houston Texans to remain at #2 on my rankings. However, with nothing left to play for in the regular season, the Colts are probably going to sit alot, if not all, of their starters in their Sunday Night game against the Titans, which will also be on NBC.

3. Dallas Cowboys - The Dallas Cowboys won a questionably called game against the Carolina Panthers last Saturday (I will have more on that later). That plus a Green Bay loss to the Chicago Bears has guarenteed the Dallas Cowboys home field advantage throughout the NFC half of the playoffs. But like the Colts, I have heard that Dallas will also be resting their starters in the Sunday game against the Redskins.

4. Green Bay Packers - If you were expecting the Packers to fall down the list with their lost to the Chicago Bears, which was an embarressing loss in my opinion, dont bother because the Packers still would have a better record than any of the teams below them. However, being lower on my rankings would be the least of their problems as they have lost home field advantage throughout the playoffs. They will play the Detroit Lions, a team that was a shell of the team they played a few weeks ago.

5. Jacksonville Jaguars - Jacksonville gets a convincing victory over the Oakland Raiders and solidifies my opinion more than they may be the only team that may be able to stop the New England Patriots. The reason I say that is because the Jaguars havent played the Pats yet, have not had a key injury yet, and can play extremely well in the cold (see their victory over Pittsburgh). Oh, they play the Houston Texans this week.

6. San Diego Chargers - After an early tumble, the San Diego Chargers have successfully taken the long way up the hill and have climbed up to making the playoffs. With a victory over the Denver Broncos on Christmas Eve, the Chargers were able to dream of sugar plums in triumph. Right now San Diego is in the #3 seed (basically the seed that avoids playing Jacksonville), but they will need a victory over the Oakland Raiders to get it.

7. Pittsburgh Steelers - Pittsburgh was able to end their two game losing streak by beating the the St. Louis Rams, but that victory may have come at a price as their star RB Willie Parker injured his leg and is out for the season. And to throw salt on that wound, the only way they can avoid playing Jacksonville in the Wild Card Round of the playoffs is to beat the Baltimore Ravens, who are very angry (more on that later), and hope San Diego loses to Oakland. You may recall Jacksonville being able to handle the Steelers a week ago in Pittsburgh as the reason they dont want to play them in the Wild Card round.

8. Seattle Seahawks - Seattle has most certainley clinched their #3 seed in the playoffs. They are still in a weak conference, but the Seahawks look to be ready to make a run in the playoffs. I dont have much to say about them as their isnt much story on them right now, other than they play Atlanta in their final game of the season. Sorry Seahawks fans.

9. New York Giants - The Giants were able to end their woes with victory in a very wet game against the Buffalo Bills. Having that out of them and now knowing for sure that they are in the playoffs (suprisingly, there was a way they could miss out still), they can save that worry for elsewhere as they are the only team left that can stop the New England Patriots from having a perfect season in a game where almost everyone will be watching. No pressure.

10. Tennessee Titans - The Titans find themselves in a very interesting, yet simple situation after their victory over the New York Jets. Win and you make the playoffs. Lose and you are out of the playoffs. No if you lose, you have to hope the other team loses situation at all. Their last game of the season, is against the Indianapolis Colts. Sound like a problem, but wait.....the Colts will probably rest most of their starters. DING

11. Cleveland Browns - Damn, it must suck to be a Browns fan. After a loss to Cincinnati, the Browns have no control over their spot in the playoffs. Basically, their game against the San Francisco 49ers is a wash as they will have to wait until Sunday Night (several hours after their game is over) and hope that the Tennessee Titans lose to the backup squad from Indianapolis.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - Tampa Bay made a very interesting decision in their loss against the San Francisco 49ers. They decided not to go for the #3 and just rest their starters for the playoffs. That decision may come back to bite them, but that can wait for another day as they play the Carolina Panthers this Sunday, and they probably will rest their players again.

13. Washington Redskins - With the help from the spirit of the late Sean Taylor and the accuracy of Todd Collins, the Washington Redskins were able to dominate the Minnesota Vikings and gain full control of their chances at the playoffs. All they have to do is beat the Dallas Cowboys, although they will be getting the backup squad from the 'Boys.

14. Minnesota Vikings - Vikings fans, what happened? You were in the drivers seat for the playoffs and now you are praying for a victory over the Denver Broncos and a loss by the Redskins. Well, I'll tell you what happened. You blew a huge game to the Skins on Sunday Night. You may have cost yourselves an oppurtunity at the playoffs and their will be no one to blame but yourselves.

15. Chicago Bears - The Bears, despite knowing they wont make the playoffs, played very well and foiled the Packers' chances of home-field advantage with a beatdown over the Pack. This week, the Bears play the New Orleans Saints and may be able to spoil the Saints' small chances of making the playoffs as well.

16. Philadelphia Eagles - Even though they are also out, the Eagles made the Saints' chances at the playoffs slim to none. They beat the Saints in a convincing way which continues their winning streak to two games. They play the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and thats all I am going to say on that.

17. New Orleans Saints - How can a team ranked this low still be in the chase for the playoffs? Well, if you are the New Orleans Saints, you damn well know the answer. With a pathetic loss to Philadelphia, it is a miracle they are still in the hunt. Maybe they can wish upon a star and get that dream to come true with a victory over the Bears & a loss by both the Skins and Vikes (if you have no idea what song I may have used.....you obviously weren't raised well as a child).

18. Arizona Cardinals - The Cards are out of the playoffs, but were not out from the grasp of having close games. They had an overtime victory over the Atlanta Falcons, a game they had to come back from (those pesky close games, you never know when they will come out to play). The Cards close out an unremarkble season against St. Louis Rams.

19. Detroit Lions - The Lions stopped the bleeding this week against the Chiefs with a victory, but they are already out of the playoffs. Poor Lions, this year. From 6-2 to an 8-8 record at best. So much for Jon Kitna's guarentee. Oh, almost forgot, they play the Green Bay Packers this week. That will be good (cue sarcasm).

20. Houston Texans - The Texans had a very interesting game against the Colts.............for the first half. After that, the game went to hell and the Texans were flat on their face again. While this season would be crummy for most teams, it wouldnt be for Houston as they may have shown that picking Mario Williams #1 overall two years ago was the right move. They play Jacksonville in their last game of the season and hope for a victory so they can go 8-8.

21. Buffalo Bills - With Kevin Everett, the Bills TE who remarkably recovered from what was though as a paralyzing injury, watching................the Bills fought to a hard fought game.....or tried to as the Giants beat down on the Bills. Sometimes you cant get two good things, but the one good thing you got may well be worth the loss. Oh, the Bills play the Eagles on Sunday.

22. Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals were able to pull an upset over the Cleveland Browns and may have cost the Browns their postseason hopes. Hey, if you are going down, may as well take someone down with you. Now if the Bengals could play games like this through most of the season, maybe they would be in the playoffs. They play the Miami Dolphins on Sunday if anyone cares.

23. Carolina Panthers - Okay......I waited long enough, now I need to get up on my soap box. The Carolina Panthers lost a very close game to the Dallas Cowboys, but that was thanks to extremely horrible officiating by the refs. Not only does Dallas get the benefit of having home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, but the Panthers are officially eliminated from the playoffs. BS.....I scream, BS. Okay, I am off the soap box now. They play Tampa Bay on Sunday.

24. Denver Broncos - On Christmas Eve, the Broncos were given a sack of coal by Santa as they were beaten down by the San Diego Chargers. I wonder which of the players were naughty this year? Anyway, they play the Vikings on Sunday in a game where they could play party pooper.

25. San Francisco 49ers - Remember that glimmer of hope for San Fran's future I was talking about last week. Well, that glimmer just got brighter as Shawn Hill won another game for the 49ers, this time over the Buccaneers. They play Cleveland on Sunday and if Shawn can win this game as well, I say start him next season.

26. Oakland Raiders - While Oakland finally gave the ball to JaMarcus Russell and things may get better later on, they did not do well against Jacksonville. In fact, they recieved a grade A ass-whooping from the Jaguars. They play San Diego on Sunday to end the season in a game with most teams going in completely different directions.

27. Baltimore Ravens - The hangover from New England continues as they lose another game, this time to the Seahawks. Well, at least it wasnt as bad as last week (what could be, honestly?). They play a weakened Pittsburgh team to end their season, but the Ravens are also weak as well.

28. Kansas City Chiefs - Kansas City continues its downfall by ending Detroit's losing steak in an embarressing way. Chiefs fans, I dont know if you have a future at all so good luck in the draft. Oh and dont forget that you play the Jets next.

29. New York Jets - Speaking of the Jets..........here they are with another loss, this time to Tennessee. Sad that throughout next season, Mangini will be the one who gets hell. Well, he put himself in that situation in Week One (you know by now what happened so it bears repeating). Good luck to them against Kansas City.

30. St. Louis Rams - The Rams may also need some re-building in the draft as the team is horrible. Rams fans, expect a rebuilding year for the Rams next year. They lost to the Steelers on Thursday and their game against the Cardinals. Hopefully, its enough although I doubt it.

31. Atlanta Falcons - Falcons, you already know the hell you are in so it isnt worth repeating. All I can say that is new is you lost to Cardinals in a very close game which ended in OT and you play Seattle on Sunday to end your season mercifully.

32. Miami Dolphins - All that happiness that transpired through Miami when the Dolphins won their first game last week, was all destroyed with a loss to the Patriots. Poetic justice was not with you this day and your 1972 team will have to wait longer to pop that damn cork. You play Cincinnati this week so try to pull out a second win on Sunday because while one win is better than no wins, it still is very crappy.

[Kevin Hamilton]

The Panthers were still in the game in the fourth quarter, their inability to score AND their inability to stop Dallas from getting a first down with three and a half minutes left to play was what cost them the game, NOT the admittedly bogus non-call on pass interference that killed a Carolina drive when it shouldn't have, NOR the perhaps questionable but according to the rules correct incomplete pass to Steve Smith. While those certainly affected the flow of the game, neither can be pointed to as the deciding factor, and in fact the Panthers were within ten in the fourth quarter. If they execute like they're supposed to, and outplay a Dallas team that isn't playing very well once Owens goes down in the first half, the bad calls aren't even an issue. Did Dallas benefit from one iffy and one that could be iffy if you're being a homer about it call? Sure. Did it decide the contest? No, unless you're going to argue that Carolina players psyches are so fragile they can't continue to play till the final gun.

Same scenario as the Ravens/Patriots game earlier in the year. One team is giving the other all the can handle, there are a couple of questionable calls ( as there are nearly every week in the NFL) and the team that should win isn't able to close it out.

I'm a diehard Dallas fan as y'all know, and the Panthers SHOULD have won that game. But put that on the Panthers, and not the calls that happened midway through the second half.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

Hey I can't really fault the Rams having a bad season this year. When you go the majority of the middle season with 60% to 70% of your starters on injured reserve and you are using 3rd and 4th string players in some positions, you are doomed to fail.

That being said, the Rams DO need to rebuild next year, as this season showed that their team is just too damn old and lacks new people to lean on. I don't care if the players suck or not, they need to sign every rookie they draft next year, just in case all the old geezers fall and break their hips again.

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

jackrabbitslim said:

The Panthers were still in the game in the fourth quarter, their inability to score AND their inability to stop Dallas from getting a first down with three and a half minutes left to play was what cost them the game, NOT the admittedly bogus non-call on pass interference that killed a Carolina drive when it shouldn't have, NOR the perhaps questionable but according to the rules correct incomplete pass to Steve Smith. While those certainly affected the flow of the game, neither can be pointed to as the deciding factor, and in fact the Panthers were within ten in the fourth quarter. If they execute like they're supposed to, and outplay a Dallas team that isn't playing very well once Owens goes down in the first half, the bad calls aren't even an issue. Did Dallas benefit from one iffy and one that could be iffy if you're being a homer about it call? Sure. Did it decide the contest? No, unless you're going to argue that Carolina players psyches are so fragile they can't continue to play till the final gun.

Same scenario as the Ravens/Patriots game earlier in the year. One team is giving the other all the can handle, there are a couple of questionable calls ( as there are nearly every week in the NFL) and the team that should win isn't able to close it out.

I'm a diehard Dallas fan as y'all know, and the Panthers SHOULD have won that game. But put that on the Panthers, and not the calls that happened midway through the second half.

You also forget the first pass interference non-call where one of the Dallas defenders yanked the arm of one of the Panthers recievers and when one of the Dallas recievers yanked down on a Panther defenders face mask before missing the ball which moved forward because of a illegal contact call on Carolina. Throughout the game, there were bad calls and even Bryant Gumble talked about it.

[Dr. T is an alien]

koda89 said:

Hey I can't really fault the Rams having a bad season this year. When you go the majority of the middle season with 60% to 70% of your starters on injured reserve and you are using 3rd and 4th string players in some positions, you are doomed to fail.

That being said, the Rams DO need to rebuild next year, as this season showed that their team is just too damn old and lacks new people to lean on. I don't care if the players suck or not, they need to sign every rookie they draft next year, just in case all the old geezers fall and break their hips again.

Hell, the Colts have had to sign a bunch of players mid-seasin due to injuries, but that hasn''t kept them from having 13 wins to date. Granted, there is a drop-off in talent between Bulger and Ferotte, but the Rams should have won more games if the coaching staff had remembered that they have a beast of a running back. They had poor Gus passing in a lot of situations where he should have been handing the ball off to Jackson. It's all about proper usage of the talent that you have available.

[Drillbit Taylor]

Why would Indy sit thier starters this week? They could have done that against Houston but did not till the 4th.

[Koda, Master Crunchyroller]

drtompki said:

koda89 said:

Hey I can't really fault the Rams having a bad season this year. When you go the majority of the middle season with 60% to 70% of your starters on injured reserve and you are using 3rd and 4th string players in some positions, you are doomed to fail.

That being said, the Rams DO need to rebuild next year, as this season showed that their team is just too damn old and lacks new people to lean on. I don't care if the players suck or not, they need to sign every rookie they draft next year, just in case all the old geezers fall and break their hips again.

Hell, the Colts have had to sign a bunch of players mid-seasin due to injuries, but that hasn''t kept them from having 13 wins to date. Granted, there is a drop-off in talent between Bulger and Ferotte, but the Rams should have won more games if the coaching staff had remembered that they have a beast of a running back. They had poor Gus passing in a lot of situations where he should have been handing the ball off to Jackson. It's all about proper usage of the talent that you have available.

The Rams have been needing a new coaching staff for the last few seasons. It is just they've had all their starters healthy enough the last few years to make something out of the wacky play calling and get some Ws, but this year, all those players were down and out so the coach's bad calls were just that...bad.

When ALL of your team's GOOD receivers are benched with injuries, you basically give up your passing game until one or two of them are cleared to play again and just run the ball, but a sucky quarterback is only going to look worse when he has sucky receivers to pass to.

[Dr. T is an alien]

hotrod05 said:

Why would Indy sit thier starters this week? They could have done that against Houston but did not till the 4th.

They won't. The only starter that will get benched early will be Addai and perhaps Clark. Manning wants to get game reps with his inexperienced receivers (and maybe even Harrison). Manning being out there means the starting linemen will be out there to protect him.

[M. Dirrty]

good list, however, the Saints raked higher than the Texans is weak, IMO.

considering the Texans are in the midst of THE toughest division in the NFL

AFC south

[Dr. T is an alien]

mdirrty said:

good list, however, the Saints raked higher than the Texans is weak, IMO.

considering the Texans are in the midst of THE toughest division in the NFL

AFC south

Yeah, but he class of said division they are not.

[Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action]

zillawrath said:

jackrabbitslim said:

The Panthers were still in the game in the fourth quarter, their inability to score AND their inability to stop Dallas from getting a first down with three and a half minutes left to play was what cost them the game, NOT the admittedly bogus non-call on pass interference that killed a Carolina drive when it shouldn't have, NOR the perhaps questionable but according to the rules correct incomplete pass to Steve Smith. While those certainly affected the flow of the game, neither can be pointed to as the deciding factor, and in fact the Panthers were within ten in the fourth quarter. If they execute like they're supposed to, and outplay a Dallas team that isn't playing very well once Owens goes down in the first half, the bad calls aren't even an issue. Did Dallas benefit from one iffy and one that could be iffy if you're being a homer about it call? Sure. Did it decide the contest? No, unless you're going to argue that Carolina players psyches are so fragile they can't continue to play till the final gun.

Same scenario as the Ravens/Patriots game earlier in the year. One team is giving the other all the can handle, there are a couple of questionable calls ( as there are nearly every week in the NFL) and the team that should win isn't able to close it out.

I'm a diehard Dallas fan as y'all know, and the Panthers SHOULD have won that game. But put that on the Panthers, and not the calls that happened midway through the second half.

You also forget the first pass interference non-call where one of the Dallas defenders yanked the arm of one of the Panthers recievers and when one of the Dallas recievers yanked down on a Panther defenders face mask before missing the ball which moved forward because of a illegal contact call on Carolina. Throughout the game, there were bad calls and even Bryant Gumble talked about it.

Seth, I'm not mad anymore because being mad is useless and will not bring us a W. However, no one, and I mean NO ONE will ever convince me that the Dallas/Carolina game was not tainted. No one will ever convince me that the refs didn't have an out right bias.

Carolina is 6-9, and for 8 of those losses we were the sorriest, crappiest, worst team out on the field that day. I acknowledge that we are not a good team this year, and the first 8 losses were deserved because we were outplayed and outcoached. I refuse to acknowledge the same for that 9th loss.

My final words go like this:
The refs didn't make us lose that game, but they did everything they could to make sure we didn't win.

[Seth Drakin of Monster Crap]

agentdeadpool said:

zillawrath said:

You also forget the first pass interference non-call where one of the Dallas defenders yanked the arm of one of the Panthers recievers and when one of the Dallas recievers yanked down on a Panther defenders face mask before missing the ball which moved forward because of a illegal contact call on Carolina. Throughout the game, there were bad calls and even Bryant Gumble talked about it.

Seth, I'm not mad anymore because being mad is useless and will not bring us a W. However, no one, and I mean NO ONE will ever convince me that the Dallas/Carolina game was not tainted. No one will ever convince me that the refs didn't have an out right bias.

Carolina is 6-9, and for 8 of those losses we were the sorriest, crappiest, worst team out on the field that day. I acknowledge that we are not a good team this year, and the first 8 losses were deserved because we were outplayed and outcoached. I refuse to acknowledge the same for that 9th loss.

My final words go like this:
The refs didn't make us lose that game, but they did everything they could to make sure we didn't win.

I know.....I just needed to get on my soapbox and say it.

[Sajoa Moe]

If the Colts lose because they didn't play any of their starters, I'll be mighty pissed.

[Dr. T is an alien]

brakndwntehwallz said:

The Titans and Browns (neither of whom are in the playoffs yet) being ranked above the Bucs (who are division winners) is goofy.

And how the hell is it Mangini's fault that the Patriots were caught cheating when they played them? Lemme guess..."they didn't cheat." The NFL punished them for no reason, I suppose? Good grief. Stick to wrestling.

It isn't. This is at least the second time that they got caught doint that very thing. To be honest, of all the accusations that I have heard about how the Patriots cheat at home, video cameras are minor league.

Some coaches have complained that their radio frequencies for their headsets and QB helmets being scrambled. An inability to communicate with the coaches upstairs is a huge disadvantage. Let alone the fact that if they can find the frequency to scramble it, they can also monitor it to spy on their communications.

Cameras to steal signals are nothing.

[Maidpool w/ Cleaning Action]

I'm over my New England anger. It is what it is, and I've quite frankly gotten to the point that I want to see some history made.

However I don't want them to win the Super Bowl (sorry Johnny ) as I'm pulling for Green Bay in the playoffs.