Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 3

This is the fourth installment of the Top 12 this season, and for the fourth time we’ll have a new team in the #1 slot.  So far, that top spot has been a curse with two of the three teams losing the next game, and the Saints looking very shaky.

And then there’s the Pats, who continue to confuse everyone by giving up 30 points to Buffalo.  I don’t like to drop teams after a win, and I really don’t like dropping my own team following a win.  Still with teams like Atlanta and Pittsburgh putting up some convincing wins, it’s going to be tough to justify keeping New England at last week’s #5 position.

Click “Read More” below to view the rankings!

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		6	5	2-1	@ Bills
		This was a really, really tough call.  Green Bay and New Orleans lost.  Indy didn’t look so hot against the lowly Broncos.  It would have been a six spot leap for Atlanta and an eight spot jump for Pittsburgh.  The bottom line is that the Jets beat New England and Miami, their two big division rivals.  They lost by one point to Baltimore.  Those are three Top 12 teams.  That’s good enough for me to swallow my pride and put the Jets in the top spot.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		3	1	2-1	@ Jaguars
		The Colts haven’t looked their best this season, but I have a feeling an exhibition vs. Jacksonville could help turn things around.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		7	4	2-1	vs. 49ers
		Just an enormous win for Atlanta this week on the road against New Orleans.  They’re an overtime loss away from being the toast of the NFL right now.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		1	3	2-1	vs. Lions
		Green Bay shot themselves in the foot with penalties on Monday Night.  However, I still believe when all is said and done, that they’ll have the NFC North and a bye week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		2	3	2-1	vs. Panthers
		The Packers’ loss was uglier than New Orleans’ close loss.  I waffled over their positioning a bit, and ultimately knocked the Saints down for their lackluster performances against Minnesota and San Fran.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		9	3	3-0	vs. Ravens
		The Steelers’ D is certainly intimidating.  Still, an overtime win against Atlanta, followed by wins over Tennesee and Tampa is hardly the stuff of legends.  I think everyone is overrating them a bit.  We’ll see how they do against Baltimore this week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		5	2	2-1	@ Dolphins
		Take away a kickoff return TD, and another TD off a fumble that lead to excellent field position, and the Patriots defense only surrendered 16 points to Buffalo.  I’d say that’s hardly the sign of the apocolypse that everyone is making it out to be.  Don’t get me wrong, the Patriots have their issues, but so does every team on this list right now.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		N/A	N/A	3-0	@ Giants
		Making their Top 12 debut…  The Chicago Bears!  The Bears’ victory over Green Bay makes thier Dallas victory seem less flukey and gets them on the list.  Still, they did almost lose to the Lions.  I bet everyone forgets that when they take down the Giants for a 4-0 start.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		8	1	2-1	@ Raiders
		The win vs. Indy is pretty much equal to the Bears’ win over GB.  I’d say an overtime win over Washington is about as good as a close win over Detroit.  The reason the Texans are #9 and the Bears are #8…   Chicago beat the Cowboys.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		12	3	2-1	@ Browns
		The Bengals looked to be in for a loooooooong season after Week 1.  They’ve since bounced back quite nicely and are continuing their trend of AFC North domination.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		4	7	2-1	@ Steelers
		I really don’t like dropping teams after wins, so how does Baltimore fall SEVEN spots???  They barely beat a Jets team that had six first downs the whole game.  They lose to Cincinnati.  They don’t look good against an atrocious Browns team.  The bottom line is that the Ravens are 2-1 but they haven’t looked good in one game this season.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		10	7	2-1	vs. Patriots
		Miami fought hard against the Jets.  Their being at #12 and dropping two spots has more to do with Cincinnati and Chicago’s rise than it does with Miami not holding their ground.  It’s safe to say that I’m pretty nervious about New England’s trip to South Beach on Monday Night.