Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 14

These once stagnant rankings are stagnant no longer.  There was a flurry of activity in the Top 12 this week with only the top two old faithful teams holding their ground.  Making things even more interesting is the fact that a whopping eight teams will be playing other Top 12 teams this week!  We’ve got Pats/Packers, Jets/Steelers, Ravens/Saints, and Giants/Eagles on tap in Week 15.  As a result, I’m sure these standings will look even more different next week.

Heading up our list of risers this week are the G-Men.  The Giants have been steadily crushing inferior competition the past few weeks and finally get their long-awaited bump after holding pat at the 10 spot week in and week out.  Sharing the shame of the big faller this week are the Jets, Bears, and Packers who all managed to drop turds in their big Week 14 games.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	11-2	vs. Packers
		If the Patriots could somehow find a way to play every game in the snow, recapturing 19-0 would be a breeze.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		2	N/A	11-2	@ Seahawks
		Atlanta needs to avoid the 12th man and the trap game in Seattle with New Orleans on the horizon.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		5	2	10-3	@ Ravens
		The Saints are looking Super once again.  They need to win this huge matchup with the Ravens to turn next week’s game into the NFC South Championship.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		4	2	10-3	vs. Jets
		Pittsburgh is catching the reeling Jets at just the right time. If they win this game, they will have all but wrapped up a first round bye.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		4	1	9-4	vs. Saints
		Baltimore’s somewhat shaky play down the stretch has to be a concern.  They get a playoff-caliber test this week with the Saints.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		3	3	8-5	@ Patriots
		The Packers had a golden opportunity to make up ground in the NFC North.  Now they’ll need to stop the streaking Pats for any real hope at the division title.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		10	3	9-4	vs. Eagles
		I can’t begin to tell you which team will win the huge NFC East battle this week.  I gave the Giants the nod here over Philly simply because they had a more convincing win last week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		9	1	9-4	@ Giants
		This game is Michael Vick’s huge shot at redemption.  Win, and Philly could be looking at a first-round bye.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		11	2	7-6	vs. 49ers
		The Jekyl and Hyde Chargers have a cupcake schedule the rest of the way.  The 8-5 Chiefs do not.  The miracle come back might just happen after all.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		7	3	9-4	@ Vikings
		There’s no shame in losing to New England in the snow.  …Unless you’re down by 33 points at halftime.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		8	3	9-4	@ Steelers
		The Jets better get themselves out of this funk with Pittsburgh and Chicago on tap.  Finishing 10-6 could equal a playoff ouster.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	7-6	vs. Jaguars
		Who to put here…  Tampa?  Jacksonville?  When in doubt, I have to give the nod to Peyton Manning and the Colts.