NFL Power Rankings

I might be the only person tired of seeing Charlie Sheen's ugly mug at the top of the D League home page. Just in case some of you are still coming back here from time to time looking for actual content instead of pictures of hot chicks....I have decided to post a mid season Power Rankings. This NFL season has been a wild ride thus far. At one point this off season it was uncertain if we would even have an NFL season, but here we are at the midway point of an already wild ride. This season feels like we should party like it's 1999, with teams like the Lions, 49ers, and Bills all looking solid. I for one can't wait to see how the second half of the season unfolds. Without any more ramblings from me and with the hope to get rid of Charlie Sheen's face, here are the NFL Power Rankings.

1)  Green Bay Packers (7-0): Is there really any debate to who is the best team in the NFL right now? The Packers come out of their bye week as the only remaining unbeaten NFL team and thanks to the bye week they have gotten a little bit healthier. The defending champs seem to be showing no signs of slowing down on the quest to repeat. San Diego, Minnesota, Tampa Bay, and Detroit are the next four teams on the schedule looking to hand the Packers their first loss.

2)  San Francisco 49ers (6-1): I know what you are thinking....is he for real right now?? The 49ers?? I sort of agree it feels wrong putting any team with Alex Smith at Quarterback this high on any list, but this team is legit. Prior to beating the Browns last week, San Francisco has convincing wins against Detroit, Tampa Bay, and Philadelphia. The wins against Detroit and Philadelphia also were on the road. Head coach Jim Harbaugh has found a way to finally motivate this team and taught them how to win. Harabaugh's biggest challenge might be motivating his team in December as they might have the West wrapped up before Thanksgiving.

3)  Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2): Following a bad loss week 1 to the Ravens, the Steelers were dubbed as the team that age is finally catching up with. They have since gone 6-1 and last week beat a solid Patriots team. The Steelers chance to prove they are still a team to beat comes this weekend with a Sunday Night rematch with those same Ravens. Pittsburgh still has a scary defense and a Quarterback in Ben Roethlisberger that is no longer just managing the football, but learning to how to stretch a defense. Pittsburgh might be getting older, but they are far from finished.

4)  New England Patriots (5-2): The Patriots are a team that is tough to figure out. The offense is clearly carrying this team. The Patriots can put up points in bunches, but unfortunately opposing teams can do the same to them. Teams that can throw the ball will give this team tons of trouble. The Giants, Jets, Chiefs, and Eagles are the next four teams the Patriots will face and following those games their schedule becomes extremely easy. If the Patriots can play even split those four games, this team will easily be a playoff team.

5)  Baltimore Ravens (5-2): The Ravens are the definition of a Jekyll and Hyde NFL team. This is a team that is being carried purely by their defense. They seem to be a team that plays to the level of their competition which is never a good thing. Ray Rice has been the only consistent piece on the offensive side of the ball and Quarterback Joe Flacco seems to be regressing. This team can only go as far as the offense can take them and at this point that remains to be seen.

6)  New Orleans Saints (5-3): In back to back weeks the Saints played two winless teams. Two weeks ago they put up 62 points on Indianapolis and this week they found themselves losing to the Rams with backup Quarterback AJ Feeley. The formula to beat the Saints is to get the lead and run the ball. Keep the ball out of Brees' hands and keep the clock running is the best way to beat this team. The Saints will struggle against teams with good running attacks as they have already this season.

7)  Buffalo Bills (5-2): Buffalo is the feel good NFL story that just won't go away. We all keep waiting for them to implode and just go away, but they just keep winning games. The Bills have a pretty easy schedule to finish out the season and could find themselves in the playoffs for the first time since 1999.

8)  Detroit Lions (6-2): Speaking of odd teams that could potentially enter the playoff picture....here are the Detroit Lions. The Lions face a pretty tough schedule the rest of the way, but only the injury bug would seem to be able to stop them from becoming a playoff team for the first time since 1999 as well.

9)  New York Giants (5-2): The Giants sit atop the NFC East right now, but for how long that remains the case is uncertain. The Giants have an ugly stretch of games upcoming the next six weeks with games against the Patriots, 49ers, Eagles, Saints, Packers, and Cowboys. Survive the next six weeks and we will see if this team if for real or not.

10)  Houston Texans (5-3): The Texans have been everybody's preseason choice to make the playoffs for how many years in a row now? If this team is ever to make that next step this is the season to do it. Thanks in part to Peyton Manning's neck, the Texans appear to be the best team in this division and only their own injury bugs could stop them from walking away from this division.   

Jack Bevenour

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