Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 7

What a weird week!  Out of last week’s Top 7, four won in pretty ugly fashion, two had a bye week, and one had a collapse of epic proportions to one of the league’s bottom-feeders.  This is definitely one of the oddest NFL seasons that I can remember.  There’s absolutely no dominant team, and trying to predict a Super Bowl matchup at this point is an utter crapshoot.

The good news?  That I can keep the Patriots in the #1 position and nobody can even begin to call me crazy.  Seriously, make a case for why another team clearly deserves that spot more than they do?  Dont’ get me wrong, I’ll knock the Patriots when they deserve to be knocked down, but for now, they’re one of the more functional teams in a league full of dysfunction.

Despite the wackiness, we only welcome one new team to the Top 12 this week.  The Chiefs are back in the fold and the Eagles and their quarterback controversy are taking the week off after their drubbing by Tennessee.  Speaking of the Titans, they’re the team who flew up the board this week, taking full advantage of the plummeting New Orleans Saints.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	5-1	vs. Vikings
		The Patriots didn’t play the prettiest game in the world, but got the job done on the road against San Diego. Had any team given me a reason to drop the Pats, I would have.  But the Jets were on a bye, Baltimore needed OT to beat lowly Buffalo, and the Steelers would have lost to Miami if the refs were able to make a correct call. In this wacky season where nobody wants to step up and be dominant, the Patriots are #1 again, if only by default.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		4	2	5-1	vs. Packers
		Whaddayaknow?  The Jets don’t play a game and somehow rise two spots.  That’s what happens when everyone else is doing their darndest to screw things up.  It’s a pretty rare thing when the top two teams in the league might come from the same division and hate each others’ guts.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		3	N/A	5-1	@ Saints
		That may have been a W in the NFL record book, but in the biased world of the Top 10, I’m counting that referee debacle as a loss for the Steelers.  I really want to drop Pittsburgh and give the Phins some justice, but a close loss to Miami is more worthy in my book than…
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		2	2	5-2	Bye Week
		…needing overtime AT HOME to take down the 0-6 Buffalo Bills.  Shame on you, Baltimore!  Shame on you!
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		8	3	5-2	Bye Week
		After a slow start, the Giants are quietly putting together an impressive string of games.  At the moment, they may be the most consistently good team in the exasperating NFC.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		6	N/A	4-2	Bye Week
		The Falcons were up and down in their game against Cincinnati, just like they have been all season long.  Still, their performance was good enough to hold them firm at the six spot.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		11	4	5-2	@ Chargers
		Tennessee is this week’s big riser.  After laying the smack down in three consecutive weeks and taking the undisputed lead in the AFC South, the Titans might just be this year’s big playoff surprise.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		5	3	4-2	vs. Texans
		I feel a bit cruel dropping the Colts three spots without playing a game, but losing Dallas Clark is a major blow.  It’s a three team race in the AFC South, and right now I’m giving the Titans the edge.  If Indy looks strong on Monday Night, I’ll try to right the wrong and send them bounding back up the board.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		9	N/A	4-2	@ Colts
		It’s put up or shut up time for the Texans this week.  I think they’re playing for their season on Monday Night in Indy.  Win, and they’re deep in the hunt.  Lose, and winning the South and making the playoffs will be awfully tough.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		N/A	N/A	4-2	vs. Buffalo
		Matt Cassel has the KC offense clicking.  If the Chiefs can avoid a complete disaster agains the Bills, they’ll be 5-2 and in great position to run away with the AFC West.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		12	1	3-3	@ Bengals
		Miami should have won that game, period.  The officials may have been “technically” correct in giving Pittsburgh the ball, but common sense was that the call was going to be challenged and the refs should’ve made the extra effort to determine possession while they were still on the field.  Or, they could have just gotten the call right in the first place…
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		7	5	4-3	vs. Steelers
		I can’t in good conscience put Tampa in this spot after the Saints throttled them the week prior.  Seattle was an option, but I’m boycotting the NFC West in these Top 12 until further notice.  I’m not keen on how Green Bay or Washington won.   That leaves the defending champions, hanging on by a thread after their despicable loss to Cleveland.  Take notice, Saints, my generosity with you has officially come to an end after this week.