Foxboro Blog Top 12: Week 8

Despite some blow-ups at the top of the rankings, it was a fairly calm week on the Top 12.  For the third week in a row, the league-leading New England Patriots top the charts.  The Saints came marching back as this week’s big riser, and Tennessee is the big faller as they failed to live up to the lofty expectations that I set for them last week.  Only the Chiefs fell off the board after their lackluster win against 0-7 Buffalo.  Replacing them is the Packers, who shut out last week’s #2 Jets team on the road.

Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
1		1	N/A	6-1	@ Browns
		Once again, the Patriots were able to grind out another tough win.  They may not be flashy, but this team is effective.  They hold the league’s best record, and now just have to avoid falling into the trap game this week against Cleveland.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
2		4	2	5-2	vs. Dolphins
		Sometimes it pays to not play a game.  The Ravens rise two spots thanks to the Jets and Steelers ineptitude.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
3		5	2	5-2	@ Seahawks
		Ditto.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
4		3	1	5-2	@ Bengals
		If you count that referee debacle in Miami, that’s two losses in a row for Pittsburgh.  Granted, both struggles came against Top 12 teams on the road, but I think it’s time that the Steelers stopped being everyone’s sweetheart team.  Especially with Rapistberger at QB.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
5		2	3	5-2	@ Lions
		Getting blanked at home is never a good thing.  I think the honeymoon may be coming to an end for the Jets.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
6		6	N/A	5-2	vs. Buccaneers
		Atlanta loves them some six spot! The Dirty Birds hold onto this perch for the third week in a row.  Big game this week against the surprising Buccs.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
7		8	1	5-2	@ Eagles
		Last week, I questioned Indy’s ability to win the AFC South.  This week they shut me up.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
8		12	4	5-3	@ Panthers
		New Orleans was a team on the brink after their ugly loss to Cleveland.  On Halloween Night, they came together and started to look like the Super Bowl team we remember.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
9		11	2	4-3	@ Ravens
		Miami is a team that’s “almost” great.  They can run with anyone in this league but have killed themselves with bad mistakes. Unfortunately, given the strength of the AFC, they’ll likely “almost” make the playoffs.
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
10		N/A	N/A	5-3	vs. Cowboys
		I really like my Top 9.  After that, things get a little foggy.  Green Bay did shut out last week’s #2 team on the road.  I think that counts for something, right?
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
11		7	4	4-3	Bye Week
		The Titans blew a major chance to make a statement.  A win in San Diego would have put them in a serious race for the South with the Colts.  Now that Indy has them in the rearview mirror, I’m not so sure the Titans can catch up. .
Ranking	Team	Last Week	Change	Record	Next Game
12		9	3	4-3	vs. Chargers
		A win against Indy would’ve obviously been phenomenal. However, I would have just taken a close game as a sign that Houston was for real.  The Texans didn’t even show up, proving that after nine seasons, this franchise still isn’t ready for the big time.