Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 15

With eight of last week’s twelve teams going head to head, the rankings were sure to get switched up this week.  And did they ever!  Not a single team stood firm, which I believe is the first time this year, and maybe the first time in Top 12 history.  (You’ll have to pardon me for not looking the data up.)  This week should be a bit calmer with only Falcons/Saints and Jets/Bears on tap. 

The big riser this week includes last week’s big faller, the Bears.  Chicago bounced back big from their awful loss to New England and share a three position rise with San Diego, who crushed the Niners last Thursday.   Technically the big faller is the Steelers, dropping four spots.  But in reality, the Giants should really hold that title as they went from #7 last week to off the board after their epic collapse against the Eagles.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		2	1	12-2	vs. Saints
		Atlanta has the league’s longest winning streak and they cruised to victory in a tough road venue this week. It’s hard to come up with a reason why they shouldn’t be #1 at 12-2.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		1	1	12-2	@ Bills
		I hemmed and hawed about what to do with the Patriots this week.  Overall, I just don’t like the fact that they may have lost this game to a team with a backup QB if not for Dan Connolly’s epic kickoff return.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		5	2	10-4	@ Browns
		The Ravens won’t play many teams tougher than the Saints the rest of the way.  That they got the W this past week speaks volumes about their ability to contend in the playoffs.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		3	1	10-4	@ Falcons
		Can’t fault them too much for losing to one of the best teams in the league on the road.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		6	1	8-6	vs. Giants
		The Pats win and drop a spot.  The Pack lost and rise one.  It just goes to show how much I respected the effort put forth by the Green Bay defense Sunday Night.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		9	3	8-6	@ Bengals
		The Chargers should have never gotten themselves into this hole.  You’ll have to pardon me if I really, really hope they don’t dig themselves out of it.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		10	3	10-4	vs. Jets
		Looks like Chicago CAN play in a snowy, bad-weather environment.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		4	4	10-4	vs. Panthers
		I don’t think the better team won on Sunday, which is why they’re still ahead of the Jets.  Still, a home loss in a big game like that has to be concerning for the Steelers.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		11	2	10-4	@ Bears
		The win was big, but Mark Sanchez needs to turn it around fast or the J-E-T-S will be D-O-N-E.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		12	2	8-6	@ Raiders
		You can’t kill Peyton Manning.  The man is a real-life zombie.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		8	3	10-4	vs. Vikings
		That could have been the biggest regular season win in Eagles history.  Still, I’m dropping the Eagles three after their victory.  They should have never gotten into a massive hole like that in the first place.  The Giants lost the game more than Philly won it.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	9-5	vs. Titans
		Matt Cassell and the Chiefs need to win two games and they’ll have their AFC West title.  It’s two home games vs. an inferior Tennessee and Oakland.  I like their chances.