Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 14

With five members of last week’s Top 12 taking a hit in the loss column this week, there’s bound to be some interesting shake-ups in the rankings.  However, the top teams are continuing to hold serve week after week, making things pretty stable in the 1-4 slots.  What does this mean for the inconsistent Patriots? Well, besides the fact that they’re going to be stuck in the middle of the rankings for the rest of the year, it also means that, come January, they’re going to be forced to go on the road a face a team that isn’t going to self-implode.  If the Pats can somehow turn this season around, it won’t be because everyone else lied down for them.  Unlike last season, whoever takes the Super Bowl this year is going to have to earn it.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	0	13-0	vs. Cowboys
		The Saints were able to bounce a desperate Cardinals team for lucky win #13.  Now they’ll have to finish off an even more desperate Cowboys team for their fourteeenth.   Their reward if they do is an almost guaranteed 16-0.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		2	0	13-0	@ Jaguars
		Indy didn’t need a lucky break to get past Denver.  If they truly are going to rest the starters for the final three games, they’ll have a tough time with the Jags and Jets these next two weeks.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		3	0	10-3	vs. Bengals
		This is, without question, the AFC team that I’d least like to see the Pats match up against in the playoffs.  Suddenly, falling to the fourth seed doesn’t seem like such a bad thing.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		4	0	11-2	@ Panthers
		Brett’s starting to show his age a bit.  Adrian Peterson isn’t running all that well.   It’s a loooooong season and it may be finally catching up with Minnesota.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		7	2	8-5	@ Bills
		I’m basing this ranking off the Patriots play in the second half.  After a season of strong starts and embarrassing finishes, New England managed to flip the script and pick up a big win against Carolina.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		8	2	9-4	vs. 49ers
		The Eagles appear poised to claim the NFC East which very well could be the best division in all of football.  Not too shabby.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		6	1	9-4	@ Chargers
		The Bengals will meet San Diego in a game that will likely determine who gets the second bye week in the AFC. After Cincy’s performance against the Vikings, I’m taking the Chargers.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		5	3	8-5	@ Lions
		Arizona likely backslid their way into the #4 seed and a date with the Saints in Round 2…
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		10	1	9-4	@ Steelers
		…if they can get past these guys who will almost certainly be the #5 seed.  As an interesting wrinkle, Green Bay and Arizona play each other in Week 17.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		11	1	8-5	vs. Raiders
		Denver loses a game and jumps a spot in the rankings?  It goes against my grain, but the Cowboys free fall is just that much worse.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		9	2	8-5	@ Saints
		Wade Philips’ job and Dallas’ season may be on the line against the Saints.  The Cowboys need a win in the worst way right now.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	7-6	vs. Bears
		It was a tough call between Baltimore and Miami here.  Ultimately, I believe Baltimore will end up winning the Wild Card and they did trounce the Lions.  My apologies to any Fins fans out there.