Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 5

Last week the Top 12 was out of control with teams flying up and down the charts.  Things appear to be stabilizing after Week 5.  The first four slots remain unchanged, with some minor shuffling in the middle of the pack.  We bid farewell to the Chargers and Chiefs after their losses, making the AFC West join the NFC West as divisions without a Top 12 team.  Interestingly enough, the NFC West has yet to hold a single spot in all six editions of the rankings so far. The AFC and NFC each hold six spots a piece, but five of the top seven spots belong to the American Football Conference.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	4-1	@ Denver
		The Jets continue their reign atop the rankings and probably will until they lose a game or some team lays enough of a smackdown on someone to warrant a major rise.  Consider me annoyed.  Brett Favre has screwed me over yet again with his lame Monday night performance.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		2	N/A	3-1	vs. Ravens
		Some may say the Moss trade could warrant a drop in the standings on a bye week.  I personally think we’re about to see a more effective and creative offense emerge in Foxboro.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		3	N/A	4-1	@ Patriots
		It’s a boring week atop the Top 12 with the Top 4 teams staying put.  That won’t be the case next week with the Ravens and Pats facing off.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		4	N/A	4-1	@ Eagles
		The Falcons beat the Niners because a San Fran defender didn’t have enough wherewithall to realize he could ice the game by falling on the floor.  A win is a win, but against the 0-4 49ers, you need to do better than surviving due to your opponent’s stupidity.  Thus the 1 spot drop.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		7	1	3-1	vs. Cleveland
		The Steelers move up two spots without even playing a game.  That’s what happens when the teams above you collapse.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		5	1	3-2	vs. Dolphins
		The bar was set so high, it’s not all that shocking that Green Bay is disappointing people.  I won’t knock them down too much for an overtime loss to a Top 12 team.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		9	2	3-2	@ Redskins
		Indy knocked off the undefeated Chiefs, but didn’t score a TD until last in the 4th.  These definitely don’t appear to be the Colts we’ve grown accustomed to.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		N/A	N/A	3-2	vs Lions
		The sleeping Giants have awakened, and have now posted back-to-back thrashings of teams in the Top 12.  That earns them a semi-decent spot in the rankings in my book.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		12	3	4-1	vs. Seahawks
		Beating the Panthers shouldn’t earn anyone a 3 spot jump.  However, Chicago keeps getting it done against some bad teams, while others stub their toes.  If they keep that trend up, they might just win the NFC North.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		6	4	3-2	@ Buccaneers
		Unfortunately for the Saints, their 2010 effort has done little to warrant a spot in the Top 12. One of these days, what happened in 2009 will no longer matter.  If they lose to Tampa, that day might be some time next week.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		8	4	3-2	@ Raiders
		Houston just doesn’t know how to handle success.  The four-way tie they hold for the AFC South lead this week, could be the last time they hold the top spot all season.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		N/A	N/A	3-2	vs. Colts
		The Skins have been on the Top 12 bubble for a while now.  2-0 in the division with a win in Green Bay is good enough to get them in this week.