Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 10

This week was supposed to be the triumphant return of the Patriots to the top of the NFL rankings.  Heading into the fourth quarter of Sunday Night’s game, you would’ve been declared certifiably insane to not regard New England as the league’s #1 team.  Even though the Saints remained undefeated, their recent narrow-escapes with teams like Miami, Carolina, and, of all teams, St. Louis, clearly hurt the “invicible” status they held during the season’s first month. Yes, with the Patriots piling it on the Colts like Rex Ryan at the Sizzler buffet, it seemed like all was finally right in this fan’s football world.

Then the unthinkable happened.  I won’t relive the horrific details which have been beaten to death on this blog already, but needless to say, what was once an easy ballot to fill, has left me racking my brain for three days.  You see, I honestly believe that the Patriots are a better team than the Colts.  Yet at the same time, that could easily just be my bias talking as the Colts have clearly had the better of the Pats during the second half of this decade.  If the Patriots are so much better, then why have we dropped five of the last six to Indy?  On the flip side, one could argue that had the Patriots’ entire team not had the flu in the AFC title game, had Dave Thomas not killed Matt Cassel’s game-winning drive with an egregious unncessary roughness penalty last season, and had Bill Belichick not coached this team like a complete ninny in the fourth quarter, then we’re talking about how the Patriots have completely owned the Colts in the 00’s.  But then I start sounding like a Steelers fan, coming up with lame excuses for my teams short-comings in big games, and I just want to hurt myself.

So you see, either way I call this thing, I lose.  I either rank a team that I believe with all my heart are beyond over-rated above my beloved Patriots, going against all my principles and actually over-rating them myself, or I come off as a complete homer, ranking a 6-3 team above a 9-0 team that just beat them this week.  Dillemmas, dillemmas…

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		7	6	7-2	@ Raiders
		Which team had the most impressive victory last week?  Which team could be 8-1 if not for a freak play against Denver?  Which team is 5-0 in its division, which just happens to be the best division in football?  It’s time for people to stop down-playing the Bengals just because they’re the Bengals.  Now watch them go and lose to the Raiders this week…
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		1	1	9-0	@ Buccaneers
		Bottom line, if you truly are the best team in the league, you shouldn’t need a kickoff return for a touchdown to beat the lowly Rams.  I don’t care if they were “taking it easy”, that’s not championship football.  New Orleans is ripe for a fall.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		3	None	9-0	@ Ravens
		Vomit.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		3	1	6-3	vs. Jets
		I had plenty of reasons to put the Patriots ahead of the Colts.  Yet when push came to shove, the Colts have found numrous ways to rally from behind this season, while the Patriots have found numrous ways to lose their lead.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		5	None	8-1	vs. Seahawks
		And the cupcakes keep on coming.  The Vikings are really going to actually beat a good team before they move any higher.  And no, last-second hail Mary’s agsint the Niners, and missed field goald by Baltimore dont’ count.  I’m talking about decisive victory.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		6	2	6-3	@ Chiefs
		The Steelers have a pretty cushy schedule the rest of the way, but do have two games against the Ravens.  If they drop both of those, it could knock them out of the post-season.  The defending champs are a mere 1-2 in the AFC North right now.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		10	3	6-3	@ Broncos
		Whoever wins the matchup this Sunday will likely take the AFC West.  Call me a front-runner, but I’m taking the team that’s won four in a row over the team that’s lost three straight.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		8	None	6-3	vs. Redskins
		It just seems wrong to give Dallas a free pass after a loss against Green Bay, but they’re still in the driver’s seat in the NFC East.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		N/A	N/A	6-3	vs. Rams
		Well look who showed up to the party!  They’ve won 5 out of 6 and have the most pathetic of teams left on their plate.  Two vs. the Rams, Detroit, Green Bay, Tennessee, and San Fran.  If they can rally in their one tough game against Minnesota, they may find themselves with a bye-week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		12	3	5-4	vs. Colts
		This one’s a must-win for Baltimore.  The Colts are banged up.  They’re playing at home.  If they don’t pull this off, nothing less than a season sweep against Pitssburgh will save their season.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		6	2	6-3	vs. Chargers
		The Broncos are in a free fall.  Luckily for them, a win next week changes everything.  On the flip side, a loss sends them to the glue factory.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		9	3	5-4	@ Giants
		I really believe that Atlanta’sa good team, which is why they’re on this list instead of 3-4 other worthy teams.  However, the G-Men are coming off a bye week and have got to be hungry after dropping four straight.  Big statement game for the dirty birds, and one that could put them in or out of the playoffs.