Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 11

Get ready for a crazy week in the Foxboro Blog Top 12!  There were some big losses that sent our top teams plummeting downward, as well as one particular matchup where the winner found themselves dropping a spot and the loser gained two ranks.  In other news, my hard stance on Brett Favre and the Vikings has softened a bit, there’s two new contenders in the rankings after Denver and Atlanta fell off, and we are headed for a clash of the titans on Monday night!

Click on “Read More” to view this week’s edition of our Top 12 Rankings…

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		2	1	10-0	vs. Patriots
		New Orleans finally looked like a #1 team playing a bunch of scrubs in the game vs. Tampa Bay.  Now they get finally get a chance to put their stamp on the ’09 season vs. New England.  Win this one and the road to the Super Bowl goes through New Orleans.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		4	2	7-3	@ Saints
		The Patriots imposed their will on the Jets, but that’s the past.  A win next week practically locks up the division, put the Pats on track for a first-round bye, and will have them seated firmly atop the NFL ladder.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		5	2	9-1	vs. Bears
		I said the Vikings would go no higher than 5th until they actually beat a good team.  Then the Bengals lost to Oakland and opened up a huge gap at the top of the standings.  We’ll get to the reasoning behind Indy’s drop in a minute, but let’s just say that I’d put my money on Favre and Adrian Peterson if they were playing the Ponies this week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		3	1	10-0	@ Texans
		Their win over Baltimore marked the third victory in a row that was secured by a mind-numbingly bad play or decision on the part of their opponent.  Yes, it’s better to be lucky than good, but how long can their luck hold out with that damaged secondary?  I say it ends in Houston where the Texans absolutely “must win” to keep their season alive.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		7	2	7-3	vs. Chiefs
		If there’s one team on this list that scares me a bit as a Patriots fan, it’s the Chargers.  When they finally manage to get their act together, they can be deadly.  Their five wins in a row is more than any team’s other than the Saints and Colts.  I’d say their act is together.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		1	5	7-3	vs. Browns
		If you thought putting the Bengals at the top of rankings last week was simply a move to jinx them and open up the door for the Patriots to slide into the AFC’s #2 spot you’d be correct.  I’m just surprised it actually worked!
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		9	2	7-3	@ Titans
		The Cardinals may be underdogs, but definitely don’t count them out of the race for the NFC title.  It’s Tennessee and Minnesota up next, followed by cream puffs.  If they can win one of those two, the #3 seed is theirs.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		8	None	7-3	vs. Raiders
		Dallas has looked pretty anemic the past two weeks, barely eeking out victory over Washington and losing to Green Bay. Still, they’re 7-3 and I couldn’t justify ranking a 5-5 team who lost their last game above them.  Lose to the Raiders this week, though, and they’re automatically off the chart.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		10	1	5-5	vs. Steelers
		Baltimore has had, without question, the most difficult schedule in the league this season.  I’m giving them a pass at 5-5 because I honestly believe they’re better than that. Now that things lighten up a bit, it’s time for them to prove me right and take one of those wild card spots.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		N/A	N/A	6-4	@ Broncos
		The G-Men find themselves back among the NFL elite with their win against Atlanta.  With Dallas only a game ahead in the standings, another NFC East title and a home playoff game aren’t out of the equation just yet.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		6	5	6-4	@ Ravens
		Horrible, horrible loss for Pittsburgh.  They win that game and maybe, just maybe they have a prayer at the AFC North.  Now their two games with Baltimore will likely determine who sits at home and who goes to the playoffs.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	6-4	@ 49ers
		Surprise, surprise!  There were a lot of teams I could’ve put here, but only Jacksonville has won three straight.  They have three very winnable games in @SF, and home vs. Hou and Mia.   They need to take two of three there.  Then, if they can manage a win vs. the Colts who will likely be resting with their #1 seed secure, it’s a matter of beating the Browns to finish 10-6.  In my books, that equals playoffs.