Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 11

With eleven ten games under each team’s belt, it’s about time that we saw some stability in our rankings.  It’s been a crazy year, no doubt, but by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, we should have a fairly good idea of where each team lies in the pecking order.   This week, four of the Top 5 teams held onto the exact same spot they did last week, and six out of twelve overall held firm.  We’ll see how long this stability lasts, though, with half of our Top 12 teams facing off against each other this week.  This week’s big riser was the Green Bay Packers, who shot up four spots after stringing together some pretty convincing wins.  Plummeting, are the Giants, who fell four places after losing two straignt NFC East games.  Onto the rankings…

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	8-2	@ Lions
		The Patriots have beaten four of the current Top 12 teams.  No other team can say that about themselves, which is why no other team deserves the #1 spot.  It’s been two big statement wins for the Pats back-to-back.  Now if they take care of business in Detroit, it will be time for the biggest statement of them all against the Jets.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		2	N/A	8-2	vs. Packers
		Atlanta continues to rack up the wins, but will face perhaps the biggest challenge of their season this week against the scorching Packers.  The NFC’s #1 seed may very well be on the line.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		3	N/A	7-3	vs. Buccaneers
		Baltimore won’t see any upward movement after pounding Carolina. Now it’s time for a real NFC South test with the Buccs on the horizon.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		8	4	7-3	@ Falcons
		The Pack have been quietly pummelling their opposition week after week.  Now is their chance to claim hold of the NFC by taking down the Dirty Birds.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		5	N/A	7-3	@ Bills
		The Steelers got smoked by New England and then smoked the Raiders.  I have a feeling that they’re either going to make a serious run or crash and burn come playoff time.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		4	2	8-2	vs. Bengals
		Garbage win, after garbage win, after garbage win, after garbage win.  I’m done respecting it.  The Jets are getting dropped.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		7	N/A	7-3	@ Cowboys
		New Orleans is just quietly biding their time, racking up wins.  Nobody’s really talking about them, but they could easily end up with the NFC’s #1 seed.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		10	2	7-3	@ Bears
		Michael Vick has turned the Eagles into a very scary team to face.  Still, his post-season track record leaves something to be desired.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		9	N/A	6-4	vs. Chargers
		There’s no shame in losing a close game to the #1 team.  Indy stands pat at #1.  Now they need to take care of business against the Chargers, or it could be panic time in Nap City.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		11	4	6-4	vs. Jaguars
		That’s back-to-back divisional losses for the G-Men.  We don’t take kindly to that in the Top 12.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		11	1	5-5	@ Colts
		San Diego is pulling their annual dig out from a hole.  I’m seeing another AFC West title in their future.  But please, let’s stop the Philip Rivers for MVP talk.  MVP’s play for teams above .500.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	7-3	@ Ravens
		Welcome to the Top 12, Tampa!  The Buccs have made the NFC South a major battle, and you honestly can’t write them off for the title.  And how crazy is this?  Let’s say the Buccs and Saints do overtake Atlanta (they’re only a game back), and Chicago stays hot…   Thanks to the suprising Buccaneers, the #2 team in this week’s rankings would be out of the playoffs.  Unreal.