YoHo's Power Rankings: Week 5

[YoHoChecko]

We're up and running for real now! Here are the rankings!

After week four, I gave myself a bye week. You see, the Bears had just blown out the Alexander-less Seahawks, the Colts stayed undefeated with another unimpressive win against the Jets and my top-ranked San Diego Chargers had a meltdown late against the over-achieving, overrated Ravens. I couldn't find a team I felt deserved to be number one. I toyed around with leaving the Raiders off the list and starting the rankings at #2, but by the time I came to grips with the notion that one of those teams had to be #1, it was friday and power rankings seemed to be superfluous.

While I apologize for my missed week, it's actually created quite a fun result. Given that two weeks have gone by and it's still so early in the season, there are plenty of movers and shakers. A lot can change in a couple weeks. I also had to account for all the things I was wrong about previously... and create a few more mistakes. While last time around, I was down on my rankings, the readers joined in and were disappointed along with me. This week, however, while there may be some strange rankings, some debateable rankings, I feel great about them. This is pure YoHo magic right here. Enjoy!

[Shoey]

Yoho, you're such a tease...

[YoHoChecko]

Yoho, you're such a tease...
Blame the website. I apparently no longer have "permission" to post. Error 404 Forbidden and such. Glitch that even the mighty Raiden can't remedy.... I actually did my work this week, but I'm being punished for skipping last week d-:

[Azazel]

you ARE a dirty little tease!

[YoHoChecko]

OK, I tease no more. I posted my rankings on myspace until we get me back up and running over here... so feel free to enjoy the Power Rankings

[ThomasTomasz]

YoHo.....Joomla administrators can still submit content (I believe) so if you send me the code, I can put it in for you (and make it just like you put it in.

[YoHoChecko]

YoHo.....Joomla administrators can still submit content (I believe) so if you send me the code, I can put it in for you (and make it just like you put it in.
Thanks for the offers, but I can't get anything to work right now. I'll just wait until the computer guys figure out what went wrong... in the mean time, the link to my rankings should still work, so they're still there to be commented on... have at me

[Azazel]

ok, my first 2 cents.....

the packers are too high, IMHO the lions and the 9ers are a better team. The Patriots are WAAAAAY too high, how the hell does a team in a division like that get ranked that high with the way they win? JUST because they are the patriots?

The same for the Saints....WTF man? just because they are the Saints, dosen't mean they get put lower than the deserve....I will start calling this the Saint. Pat rule......the pats are too high because of their name, and the saints are too low because of their name.

all in all though it isnt a bad list, those were my only complaints, and you shall be forgiven for now.

[Blackmallard]

ok, my first 2 cents.....

the packers are too high, IMHO the lions and the 9ers are a better team.

It looked like YoHo agreed with you on the 9ers since he ranked them three spots ahead of the Pack. The Lions haven't really done anything this year, and while the Pack hasn't done much they did manage to beat the Lions.

[YoHoChecko]

So it's all fixed and up on the front page now... I was told I might have a code error, so I went about inputting the rankings into the system slowly... team-by-team. Turns out there was an error somewhere in the TEXT about the Chargers. I input the code just fine, but when I erased the actual paragraph about the team, then it went through. Apparently, Joombla is related to Marty Schottenheimer (and is probably as good of a coach as his son, Kurt) and it was trying to protect his good name. Now, as far as the rankings go...


ok, my first 2 cents.....

the packers are too high, IMHO the lions and the 9ers are a better team.
The Niners are ranked ahead of the Packers... and the Packers' lone win came AGAINST the Lions. Oh, and the 4 teams that have defeated the Packers (even though I call two very overrated) are a combined 17-3 and each leads their division.

The Patriots are WAAAAAY too high, how the hell does a team in a division like that get ranked that high with the way they win? JUST because they are the patriots?You saw what they did against the Bengals. Tell this team that they're out of it, and they'll come back and rise to the occassion. They took some time to get going, but this team has a cakewalk schedule. Then, with a full season's worth of comfort added in, you tell em that Tom Brady and Belichick in the playoffs isn't as dangerous as any team in the league. They have a helluva running game right now, too. (and by the way, I made a quick edit, so it's slightly different than what was on myspace)


The same for the Saints....WTF man? just because they are the Saints, dosen't mean they get put lower than the deserve....I will start calling this the Saint. Pat rule......the pats are too high because of their name, and the saints are too low because of their name.You just have a heart so you love the Saints' story. Like I said, they will be 4-3 in three weeks (2 losses and a bye). They have BARELY beaten the worst teams in the league. They got a big win on an emotional high against the Falcons, and haven't been altogether impressive since. I don't buy into the sentimental hype and I don't buy into the patty cake schedule early on.


all in all though it isnt a bad list, those were my only complaints, and you shall be forgiven for now.
And thank you, sir, for being the first to give me a piece of your mind on this subject.

[Azazel]

It looked like YoHo agreed with you on the 9ers since he ranked them three spots ahead of the Pack. The Lions haven't really done anything this year, and while the Pack hasn't done much they did manage to beat the Lions.


well the lions have showed more of a team unit than green bay, and just because a team has beaten another one dosent automaticly put them ahead of said team. Detroit has shown more heart and more eagerness to win than Green Bay IMHO

[Azazel]

You just have a heart so you love the Saints' story. Like I said, they will be 4-3 in three weeks (2 losses and a bye). They have BARELY beaten the worst teams in the league. They got a big win on an emotional high against the Falcons, and haven't been altogether impressive since. I don't buy into the sentimental hype and I don't buy into the patty cake schedule early on.

HOW DARE YOU?!?!!?!?! I have a heart.....well, I have never been so insulted.

You are the opposite of the scale....you just hate the Saints, and look if you are going to hate everyone that beats the packers, you are in for a looooooooong year and be ready to hate a LOT of teams. The saints have shown strength Offensively with a legit QB in Brees, and Bush coming into his own, speaking nothing of McCallister who is still a premiere back and Horn who will always give you trouble. and actual UNITY on the defensive side where people such as myself and many others didnt give them a chance. they beat Tampa Bay and Atlanta, no matter where they WERE at the time, that is still gaining 2 emotional division wins against two teams everyone assumed were going to run wild. Not to mention they loss by ONLY three to Carolina WITH the god of all gods:rolleyes: steve smith.

Give credit where Credit is due, I am more worried about facing the saints then I was about facing Dallas last week.

[YoHoChecko]

well the lions have showed more of a team unit than green bay, and just because a team has beaten another one dosent automaticly put them ahead of said team. Detroit has shown more heart and more eagerness to win than Green Bay IMHO
I can agree with you here on a few counts. One is that the Packers don't show much of an urgency or a team effort. They often look inept. Two is that just because a team beats another does not automatically make it better. However, usually, it's things like the Jaguars beat the Cowboys who beat the Redskins who beat the jaguars sort of things, and the overall body of work on the season tends to seperate them.

The Lions, however, are winless. They are 0-5. So it's hard for me to say I've seen anything that can lift them above a team that has defeated them. And again, as I already stated, the Packers have lost to four division leaders with a combined record of 17-3, while the Lions' Opponents are 16-8. They have faced quality teams, and they have been competetive with most of them. But they can't get off the schnied, so I don't feel the need to reward them by elevating them above a team that defeated them, especially when that team has also been competetive in some of their losses.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Also, for the record, in regards to this little bantering, I think it's fair to inform the public that I am so sure of the Saints' actual weakness, and he is so unsure, that I promised to buy him a meal if the Eagles lose to the Saints... not in person or anything, since that would involve cross-country commute, but still...

[Wolverine]

Ya I have an issue and of course it's a Steeler one.

Im gonna nitpick your arguement for the colts being 5-0 and 7th.

I think the Steelers can beat both the Jets and Bills if they faced them. So therefore I think they should be higher, regardless of their losses to those good teams.

heeehaa..

In all seriousness. If the Steelers did face one of those teams(and a few others, but really because of their record, I understand why they are high up there) I would put my money on the Steelers to win. Ben has shown signs of playing well against the chargers, and that's enough reason for me to believe that they would win.

[YoHoChecko]

Ya I have an issue and of course it's a Steeler one.

Im gonna nitpick your arguement for the colts being 5-0 and 7th.

I think the Steelers can beat both the Jets and Bills if they faced them. So therefore I think they should be higher, regardless of their losses to those good teams.

heeehaa..

In all seriousness. If the Steelers did face one of those teams(and a few others, but really because of their record, I understand why they are high up there) I would put my money on the Steelers to win. Ben has shown signs of playing well against the chargers, and that's enough reason for me to believe that they would win.
You've got a fair point there, really. In actuality, the Jets were below them as of this morning. When I finally got it posted, though, I looked and thought "why are the bills ranked 4 spots ahead of the jets?" Didn't the Jets beat the Bills? Don't they have the same record? Haven't they both had competetive losses and just got blown out last week? So I decided I had to put them together, and I moved the Jets up instead of the Bills down because it was easiest.

But yes, I could definately have moved the Steelers up to, say, 18--and I could see them beating the Rams (and maybe Saints), too... but I just can't say a 1-3 team is better than 2 4-1 teams right now.

[Wolverine]

Ya that's why I didn't include them.

Shoey has an issue with the Steelers beating the Bills right now though. lol

[YoHoChecko]

Ya that's why I didn't include them.

Shoey has an issue with the Steelers beating the Bills right now though. lol
It'd be a tough game, man, I'll tell ya that. That's what the Bills do.

[Crunked]

Yoho , as always an interesting read, I would invite you however to include (where each team was ranked from your previous power ranking) so that people could gauge your rise and fall assertions in a more dynamic way, for instance the Colts NEXT week are #3 (up 2 spots) as an example that way people could see the dynamics of the rankings....

Ok, now on to the homer part of the post. The Colts have had a rudementary defensive problem the last (3) weeks, one would expect a professional coaching staff to address it in one form or another during the bye week. Look for that fix to be a solid week of fundamentals practice and not another body coming in...as Dungy correctly pointed out two things to the media

1) The Colts have been forced the last 3 games to play as the opponent has dictated.
2) First half rushing allowed on average a whopping 150 yards, 2nd half running on average allowed 48 yards, as he pointed out teams have been dictating to us, so its not as if they come into the second half passing more, we have been playing catch up, so its not that we CANT stop the run consistently its that we HAVEN'T stopped the run consistently. As Dungy correctly points out its the same opponent going against the same defense and the difference in the outcome is fundamentals, the Colts defense has yet to play 4 straight quarters of good football, but from the outside the perception is they are playing lousy, when the truth is they are a 32nd ranked defense in the first and second quarter and top 10 in the 3rd and fourth, so if they can develop some consistency, and soon we will be a tough team that is overlooked by many and that will make us dangerous. Or if GOD forbid we go the other way, we follow the course of the first half of games we will fail to make the playoffs. I think ultimately it has come down to injuries, we have good second and third tier guys to step in and play that is not what I am saying here, I am saying due to the VOLUME of injuries there hasn't been a consistent group of guys on the field yet to form a chemistry or flow amongst themselves in a "team like" way.

Take for example the secondary (which played ok against a rookie last week against the Titans)

RCB-3rd stringer
LCB-1st stringer
FS-rookie SS
SS-2nd stringer
so you have a hodge podge of first and second teir talent working together these guys dont get any more reps than a day or two of practice together and with the # of injuries that just keeps fluctuating same with the D-Line so no cohesion is being built, ironically it will help the team for late in the season, but for now it makes for miscommuntications and poor fundamentals all around, after the bye we will be a bit healthier so that will help normalize the situation somewhat, inuries are a part of the game, but consistently having 20+ guys on the injury list has forced the Colts to improvise in ways teams cannot prepare for (mentally).

just the ramblings of a fan

[YoHoChecko]

Yoho , as always an interesting read, I would invite you however to include (where each team was ranked from your previous power ranking) so that people could gauge your rise and fall assertions in a more dynamic way, for instance the Colts NEXT week are #3 (up 2 spots) as an example that way people could see the dynamics of the rankings....I've thought about that, and perhaps I'll include it. The thing for me, though, is that each time I do the rankings, I try to rank the teams how I feel about them. I try not to buy into (so and so was ranked ahead of so and so, they won, how can they drop below so and so) kind of logic. I don't base my rankings on my previous rankings. For instance, if the Bears lose, and I feel they should fall from the top spot, The new top team won't automatically move into the number one, ya know? So while I may consider doing it anyway, I'm hesitant


Ok, now on to the homer part of the post. The Colts have had a rudementary defensive problem the last (3) weeks, one would expect a professional coaching staff to address it in one form or another during the bye week. Look for that fix to be a solid week of fundamentals practice and not another body coming in...as Dungy correctly pointed out two things to the media

1) The Colts have been forced the last 3 games to play as the opponent has dictated.
2) First half rushing allowed on average a whopping 150 yards, 2nd half running on average allowed 48 yards, as he pointed out teams have been dictating to us, so its not as if they come into the second half passing more, we have been playing catch up, so its not that we CANT stop the run consistently its that we HAVEN'T stopped the run consistently. As Dungy correctly points out its the same opponent going against the same defense and the difference in the outcome is fundamentals, the Colts defense has yet to play 4 straight quarters of good football, but from the outside the perception is they are playing lousy, when the truth is they are a 32nd ranked defense in the first and second quarter and top 10 in the 3rd and fourth, so if they can develop some consistency, and soon we will be a tough team that is overlooked by many and that will make us dangerous. Or if GOD forbid we go the other way, we follow the course of the first half of games we will fail to make the playoffs. I think ultimately it has come down to injuries, we have good second and third tier guys to step in and play that is not what I am saying here, I am saying due to the VOLUME of injuries there hasn't been a consistent group of guys on the field yet to form a chemistry or flow amongst themselves in a "team like" way.

Take for example the secondary (which played ok against a rookie last week against the Titans)

RCB-3rd stringer
LCB-1st stringer
FS-rookie SS
SS-2nd stringer
so you have a hodge podge of first and second teir talent working together these guys dont get any more reps than a day or two of practice together and with the # of injuries that just keeps fluctuating same with the D-Line so no cohesion is being built, ironically it will help the team for late in the season, but for now it makes for miscommuntications and poor fundamentals all around, after the bye we will be a bit healthier so that will help normalize the situation somewhat, inuries are a part of the game, but consistently having 20+ guys on the injury list has forced the Colts to improvise in ways teams cannot prepare for (mentally).

just the ramblings of a fan
Man, based on all that, I should have ranked them lower. 150 rushing yards per first half! Are you serious? Look, man, the Packers defense CAN play well, too. They do it for spurts and quarters and halves. Heck, they held the Eagles to 7 points in a half (albeit through one lucky fumble and one forced fumble) The fact that the team is capable of doing it but can't do it consistently and the coaching staff has yet to rectify that is a pretty damming assertion (I spelled that wrong to avoid censor).

As far as the injuries, I know that has had an impact. It's a valid reason to have an impact. But I'm not going to raise them until the missing players ARE healthy and ARE playing better... not just because maybe they will sometime.

The bottom line, though, is that they're winning while playing badly, and that keeps them up pretty high, for me. But the Jets and the Titans seriously testing them in back-to-back weeks.... it's certainly not an elite team right now.

I'm very much looking forward to seeing how they respond after the bye... not washington so much, but then denver and new england. If they keep winning ugly when the competition goes into that elite area, then they're deserving of a top spot.... but I'll have to wait until they play the games.

[jjflr]

good job YoHo.........lots of fun........you know I love rankings to spur conversation

As far as the debates on the Patriots, Steelers, and Saints..........

I can't argue with the Patriots being high.......they are now my pick to represent the AFC. They seem to be putting together some chemistry, their defense is playing better than I thought it would, and if they get their running game churning consistently from week to week, watch out because we know Brady is going to produce in the air also.

The Saints........well, I've watched the Saints play a couple of times this year..........I tend to agree that they are over-achieving and I wouldn't be surprised if they start to tail off as the season progresses, especially because they are in the tough NFC South. Their defense particularly worries me.

The Steelers.........we all know they're better than #22, but this is also about where my formula put them based on their play thus far. The only team they've beaten are the DOLPHINS ??

And the 3 losses have all been by 9 or 10 points, not really nail-biters.....I mean they've hung in there in all 3 games but really got beaten pretty soundly in the Jaguars and Chargers games..........they were more competitive against the Bengals but now are we questioning the Bengals strength after the beat-down the Patriots gave them?

Time will tell for all 3 of these teams but right now, I can't argue with where they are

[YoHoChecko]

good job YoHo.........lots of fun........you know I love rankings to spur conversation

As far as the debates on the Patriots, Steelers, and Saints..........

I can't argue with the Patriots being high.......they are now my pick to represent the AFC. They seem to be putting together some chemistry, their defense is playing better than I thought it would, and if they get their running game churning consistently from week to week, watch out because we know Brady is going to produce in the air also.

The Saints........well, I've watched the Saints play a couple of times this year..........I tend to agree that they are over-achieving and I wouldn't be surprised if they start to tail off as the season progresses, especially because they are in the tough NFC South. Their defense particularly worries me.

The Steelers.........we all know they're better than #22, but this is also about where my formula put them based on their play thus far. The only team they've beaten are the DOLPHINS ??

And the 3 losses have all been by 9 or 10 points, not really nail-biters.....I mean they've hung in there in all 3 games but really got beaten pretty soundly in the Jaguars and Chargers games..........they were more competitive against the Bengals but now are we questioning the Bengals strength after the beat-down the Patriots gave them?

Time will tell for all 3 of these teams but right now, I can't argue with where they are
I'm glad to get some support for those, thanks. I think they're pretty accurate. By the way, did you like my link to your rankings at the bottom of the page?

Also, within the next week or so, time-permitting, I plan on developing a numerical system, as well. I'm certainly not going to give up on the opinion-based ones. I have way too much fun doing that, but I also have always loved stats and analysis and such (as we all know) so I've been meaning to get into that as well. At some point, though, we have to find some way to collaborate on these things

[Azazel]

You people are inane about the Pats...JJ....represent the AFC?? are you joking? There is NO way that happens this year sorry...maybe the AFC EAST, but come on they have spiraled out of contention, they are no where as good as Denver, JAX, Indy. this is 2006-07.

the ST. Pat rule drives me nuts. u guys are killing me.

[YoHoChecko]

You people are inane about the Pats...JJ....represent the AFC?? are you joking? There is NO way that happens this year sorry...maybe the AFC EAST, but come on they have spiraled out of contention, they are no where as good as Denver, JAX, Indy. this is 2006-07.

the ST. Pat rule drives me nuts. u guys are killing me.
I don't see them representing the AFC, necessarily, but this is a 4-1 team with games remaining against Houston, Tennessee, Miami, Green Bay and Detroit. They are almost definately playoff-bound, and it appears to be a home playoff game. I'd put them in the second round of the playoffs against either Denver, SD or Indy... and if it's Indy... speaking of which, the Colts are not playing nay better than the Pats right now and if the two played now, Maroney and Dillon might EACH get 100 yards rushing.

We're looking at a team with a decent defense, a great running game and a great QB. Plus they know how to turn it on when the chips are down, as they showed coming from behind against Buffalo and flattening the Bengals.

[YoHoChecko]

One more note about AFC powers... The Broncos without Elway, the Colts with manning and the Chargers under Schottenheimer all have a history of choking in critical games. It's something you can't ignore. So while I'll evaluate the teams based on the present more than future projections, you can't say it's crazy not to pick those teams as AFC competitors... If the Bengals hit their stride and get the offense clicking like it should, then they can be dangerous again. Where's Chad Johnson been?

[jjflr]

You people are inane about the Pats...JJ....represent the AFC?? are you joking? There is NO way that happens this year sorry...maybe the AFC EAST, but come on they have spiraled out of contention, they are no where as good as Denver, JAX, Indy. this is 2006-07.

the ST. Pat rule drives me nuts. u guys are killing me.

WHAT ?

You should know that I am NOT a Patriots/Bellichick honk...........

What I see happening in the AFC this year is that there is not one single dominant team and so it's anybody's game. My money is going to be on the experience and players/coaches that have proven to me already that they can make it through to the Super Bowl.

Shanahan doesn't have Elway anymore
Shottenheimer never wins in the playoffs
The Jaguars ? Please..........they look good when playing a below average team, that's about it
The Colts ? Dungy/Manning both haven't proven they can get to the big one. Why would I bet on them now ?
The Ravens are interesting but their offense is going to AT LEAST have to become a middle-of-the-pack O and right now they're not
The Bengals ? Maybe, but their D still gets exposed at just the wrong times.

Who else is there?

Here is how I would list my current favorites to represent the AFC:

1. Patriots
2. Bengals
3. Broncos
4. Ravens
5. Colts
6. Chargers
7. Jaguars

[BigBenCan7]

And the 3 losses have all been by 9 or 10 points, not really nail-biters.....I mean they've hung in there in all 3 games but really got beaten pretty soundly in the Jaguars and Chargers games..........they were more competitive against the Bengals but now are we questioning the Bengals strength after the beat-down the Patriots gave them?

Sometimes the score isn't really reflective of how close the games really were. The Steelers were a play away from winning all three of those games, and had leads of a touchdown or more in two of them.

I don't really disagree with the rankings, with how the Steelers have played so far. It depends on what they are ranking. How the team has played so far, or how you feel they'll rank at the end of the season. Personally, I think everyone agrees the Steelers will get themselves in gear and get out of the 22 spot, and more towards the top 10, but right now, it's hard for me to say that they don't deserve to be that low - because they do.

It's hard for me to gauge them in how YoHo says he ranks them. I don't know if they'd be able to beat the Bills, Jets, Saints, Rams or any of those teams listed above them (although, being the homer I am, I'd pick them to beat all of those teams up until we hit the Panthers). We don't really know when the Steelers will wake up, but I think most would agree that they will eventually, so it's hard to say who they would beat week to week.

If any of that makes any sense to anyone but me.

[XPetey]

YoHo...was Carson Palmer the master of big games when he went to Pittsburgh and knocked off the Steelers to virtually lock up the AFC North for the Bengals? Was Palmer the master of big games when his first pass from scrimmage was a 60+ yard strike to Chris Henry in his first playoff appearance? What is your basis for this??

[Las Bengalas]

Agree, that doesn't make any sense.

[YoHoChecko]

I know he won the championship at USC... but dude, I watched him for a long time. I just question his intestinal fortitude. You aren't going to accept any of this. I'm well aware. It is going to sound stupid. But I don't have faith in any QBs who keep their mouth open (though Palmer has reduced that habit) and I judge them often by a look in their eyes. He also has already shown a trait of throwing ill-advised passes when pressured, but he got lucky last year and they didn't result in interceptions. KC Joyner calculated that 4.5% of his passes last year were "nearly" intercepted, and that doesn't just means deflected. Those are the passes that defenders actually should have/could have caught. He led the league in that. He got lucky.

He's not bad at all, but under pressure, I think that he will crack. People love to compare this team to the Colts as they rose... what about manning? Couldn't beat the Patriots, struggled in the playoffs. Carson hasn't had any real opportunity in the playoffs. I'm just extending the comparison and adding to my own long-held onto theories of carson palmer

[jjflr]

Sometimes the score isn't really reflective of how close the games really were. The Steelers were a play away from winning all three of those games, and had leads of a touchdown or more in two of them.

I don't really disagree with the rankings, with how the Steelers have played so far. It depends on what they are ranking. How the team has played so far, or how you feel they'll rank at the end of the season. Personally, I think everyone agrees the Steelers will get themselves in gear and get out of the 22 spot, and more towards the top 10, but right now, it's hard for me to say that they don't deserve to be that low - because they do.

It's hard for me to gauge them in how YoHo says he ranks them. I don't know if they'd be able to beat the Bills, Jets, Saints, Rams or any of those teams listed above them (although, being the homer I am, I'd pick them to beat all of those teams up until we hit the Panthers). We don't really know when the Steelers will wake up, but I think most would agree that they will eventually, so it's hard to say who they would beat week to week.

If any of that makes any sense to anyone but me.

What did you just say ?

[BigBenCan7]

What did you just say ?

Yeah...I rambled.

Hopefully it made sense to someone out there.

[Remix 6]

im a little annoyed by "blessed with easy division"

why? because Jets have been highly competitive just about every game besides verse Jaguars..they played great against us..against the Colts..2 good teams

Bills have also played well against us and beat the Vikings who were a pretty good team to start with beating Carolina and Washington. They actually have played better than expected if you watched them a bit.

its easy to some extent but i dont think many NFL teams are coming in andtaking these teams lightly so its not just "easy"..still a lot of competition IMO

[jjflr]

im a little annoyed by "blessed with easy division"

why? because Jets have been highly competitive just about every game besides verse Jaguars..they played great against us..against the Colts..2 good teams

Bills have also played well against us and beat the Vikings who were a pretty good team to start with beating Carolina and Washington. They actually have played better than expected if you watched them a bit.

its easy to some extent but i dont think many NFL teams are coming in andtaking these teams lightly so its not just "easy"..still a lot of competition IMO

The AFC East is not what it used to be but it's not the worst in the league right now. Actually, it's #6 out of 8....http://www.pigskinheaven.com/forums/showthread.php?t=47312

I see the Jets heading South before making a run for the playoffs.

I don't think the Bills can decide what kind of team they are.

The Dolphins have been one of the worst teams in the league thus far.

Having said all that, I think the Patriots are playing great...........

[YoHoChecko]

im a little annoyed by "blessed with easy division"

why? because Jets have been highly competitive just about every game besides verse Jaguars..they played great against us..against the Colts..2 good teams

Bills have also played well against us and beat the Vikings who were a pretty good team to start with beating Carolina and Washington. They actually have played better than expected if you watched them a bit.

its easy to some extent but i dont think many NFL teams are coming in andtaking these teams lightly so its not just "easy"..still a lot of competition IMO
Thank GOD! I have been WAITING for someone to ask that. I left the post-it with my notes on the subject at work, though... yesterday. I think these are the right numbers, though. OK, here's the rub about the 3 teams in the AFC east not named the Patriots:

combined, they are 2-2 against each other (completely cancells out, obviously)
combined, they are 0-3 against the Pats
combined, they are 2-0 against the Titans
combined, they are 1-5 against everyone else (including the Texans!)

So aside from themselves and the Titans, these three teams are 1-8... WEAK

(and besides, the only team who hasn't played the Colts close was the texans... so it's nothing to brag about)

[Tronix]

Yea! I was quoted in Yoho's power ranking list..

"A BUCS fan said if we go 0-5 start playing for a draft pick." I believe I said that right after the Atlanta loss...I feel so honored. lol

That said. I think we are better than the Lions and I think the difference is the defense and their lack of a run game. Our biggest weakness is stopping the run, since they dont have a running game, our defense as shaky as it's looked would tee off on their WR's..and I dont think the Lions can stop Caddilac, and the DB's couldn't keep up with Galloway.
IMHO, I'd move the Bucs up atleast a spot or two...

all in all well done my friend.

[YoHoChecko]

Yea! I was quoted in Yoho's power ranking list..

"A BUCS fan said if we go 0-5 start playing for a draft pick." I believe I said that right after the Atlanta loss...I feel so honored. lol

That said. I think we are better than the Lions and I think the difference is the defense and their lack of a run game. Our biggest weakness is stopping the run, since they dont have a running game, our defense as shaky as it's looked would tee off on their WR's..and I dont think the Lions can stop Caddilac, and the DB's couldn't keep up with Galloway.
IMHO, I'd move the Bucs up atleast a spot or two...

all in all well done my friend.
Detroit is only giving up 3.3 yards per carry this year--good for 7th in the league. They have very good DTs. The Bucs, however, give 5.0 per carry, good for 31st. It'd be interesting to see if an O-linemen missing three starters due to injury (Lions) could match up with a defense giving up rushing yards like they're being paid for it.... but Caddy and that O-line are VERY unlikely to win the matchup with the Lions' D-line.

I do love Gradkowski, though. I'm glad he's getting a chance to play and it might actually make them better than they had been playing this season under Chris Simms.

But Detroit has been much closer in their losses than TB.

and yeah, I quoted you... couldn't use any names since they always seem to be changin' around here lately

[infinite_23]

I think that Dre Bly would be a good matchup to cover Galloway. I also think that Shaun Rogers and the Detroit D Line would own Tampa's O-Line the way it is now. The problem with Detroit is that their offence has become very predictable and outside of Roy Williams they really don't have a lot of talent. Although the Tampa D has taken a step back this season I still think that they could shut down Detroit's predictable offence. I would pick Tampa to win this game providing the offensive line plays decent. Long story short, I think Tampa should be ranked higher than Detroit.

[YoHoChecko]

I also think that Shaun Rogers and the Detroit D Line would own Tampa's O-Line the way it is now....

I would pick Tampa to win this game providing the offensive line plays decent.
Ummm, but you just said that the offensive line would get owned. SO it looks like perhaps you've argued against your own pick. I honestly wouldn't pick Tampa for much of anything right now. Keep in mind the Lions lost to the Seahawks by 3, the Rams by 7, the Vikings by 9 (on a late INT for a TD), the Packers by 7. They've been within one score of most teams with the ball in the 4th quarter. The Bucs can't say that about 4 of their games.

[infinite_23]

Ummm, but you just said that the offensive line would get owned. SO it looks like perhaps you've argued against your own pick. I honestly wouldn't pick Tampa for much of anything right now. Keep in mind the Lions lost to the Seahawks by 3, the Rams by 7, the Vikings by 9 (on a late INT for a TD), the Packers by 7. They've been within one score of most teams with the ball in the 4th quarter. The Bucs can't say that about 4 of their games.

I would pick tampa based more on their veteran cover 2 taking on a one dimensional, predictable offence. I think detroit suprised some teams early this year coming out and airing it out as much as they have with Kitna. But I don't think that Kitna is going to put this team on his back and throw for 4000 + yards and 30 + TD's this season. Lets face it, Kitna is no Dan Marino, and the running game in detroit has been horrible since barry retired. I also think that every team that detroit has lost to this year, is not as good as their records indicate with the exception of the packers.

[Dreamers]

Still think you'r putting the Eagles way too high, Their 8th maybe 7th at best. KC at 15 is the only position that struck me as odd. I'm just can't buy them moving out of the bottom 12 just yet. Was surprised to see the JETS at 18 after reading your division standings and last weeks killing. I'd even put Washington and Minnesota above them. Not bad at all this week, I can at least see your reasoning.

[YoHoChecko]

Still think you'r putting the Eagles way too high, Their 8th maybe 7th at best. KC at 15 is the only position that struck me as odd. I'm just can't buy them moving out of the bottom 12 just yet. Was surprised to see the JETS at 18 after reading your division standings and last weeks killing. I'd even put Washington and Minnesota above them. Not bad at all this week, I can at least see your reasoning.
Until the very last minute, the Jets were at 22, and the Bills were at 18... I didn't like them being so disparate because I see them as pretty similar this year, and the Jets won that game... though the Bills are just entirely inconsistent... but anyway, I was going to move them closer to each other. So the I had to decide between moving Buffalo down or NY up. I should have compromised and moved them down to 19 and 20 or 20 and 21... it's an inexact science down there at the bottom... well, actually everywhere

[Remix 6]

i agree the AFC East teams are weak but they are competitive

[Blackmallard]

Here we go. This will be the biggest test of the YoHo curse so far. This is probably the strongest number 1 ranked team you have put up, and their opponent is not anything special. Will the Bears finally post the first W for the YoHo number one teams?

[Crunked]

Here we go. This will be the biggest test of the YoHo curse so far. This is probably the strongest number 1 ranked team you have put up, and their opponent is not anything special. Will the Bears finally post the first W for the YoHo number one teams?

Ooooh, that is a good point, will the Bears crumble to the Yoho curse? Man from where I am standing I can't see how that could happen which would make for a really henous curse if it did happen, now I have a reason to care in the Colt bye week outside of the normal curiosities about upcoming opponents.