Tag: NFL power rankings

Colts drop two spots in NFL power rankings in Week 13

Colts are in the middle of the pack.

The Indianapolis Colts (6-5) have a crucial matchup awaiting them in Week 13 following their 20-17 primetime loss against the Houston Texans (7-4) at NRG Stadium.

Still in the thick of the AFC wild-card race—and the divisional race—the Colts dropped two spots in Touchdown Wire’s NFL power rankings entering Week 13 of the 2019 season. They fell from No. 12 to No. 14.

14. Indianapolis Colts (6-5)

(6-5. Last week: 12)

The good news for the Colts over their past two games is that they’ve become one of the NFL’s most effective and prolific rushing teams. In their Week 11 win over the Jaguars, they had two 100-yard rushers (Jonathan Williams and Marlon Mack), and the franchise hadn’t done that since 1985. Mack was out with a hand injury, so Williams and Nyheim Hines took over against the Texans last Thursday night, combining for 155 yards. Quarterback Jacoby Brissett added 20 yards and a rushing touchdown of his own. The bad news? Indianapolis fell short against the Texans, 20-17, in part because Brissett was unable to connect with his receivers on deep shots. Brissett threw just two passes of 20 or more air yards — both to T.Y. Hilton, and both fell incomplete. Deshaun Watson, on the other hand, hit five deep passes on nine attempts for 184 yards and two touchdowns. That was a fundamental difference in this game, and it’s a matter of concern for the Colts — Brissett has completed just nine deep passes on 28 attempts for 267 yards, one touchdown, and two interceptions all season. To put that into perspective, there are 25 quarterbacks with more deep attempts, and 24 of them have more deep completions. Losing that key divisional battle was one thing; the larger issue for Frank Reich and his coaching staff is how to propel their offense forward without the capability for explosive passing plays.

The Colts find themselves in the middle of the playoff hunt but with some matchups coming up that will hold heavy implications in the race for one of the six spots in the AFC.

Indy hosts the Tennessee Titans in Week 13 at Lucas Oil Stadium. Currently holding the tiebreaker over the division rivals, Sunday’s matchup is huge for both teams looking to make that extra push.

The Titans have been solid on both sides of the ball, winning four of their last five games. The Colts defense has been strong, but the offense has been shaky en route to losing three of their last four games.

It will be a physical battle against the Titans, who are looking to make up for their Week 2 loss at home against the Colts.

Broncos drop one spot in Week 12 NFL power rankings

The Broncos dropped one spot in NFL power rankings this week.

Coming off a 27-23 loss to the Minnesota Vikings in Week 11, the Denver Broncos dropped one spot in Nate Davis’ latest NFL power rankings for USA TODAY Sports. Denver is now ranked No. 26, considered one of the seven worst teams in the league — at least in the eyes of Davis.

Here is Davis’ commentary with the Broncos’ ranking:

Von Miller, who has never failed to reach double-digit sacks over course of a full season, on pace for just eight in Vic Fangio’s scheme.

Miller totaling five sacks through 10 games is probably the least of Denver’s worries. Miller may be having a quiet year by his standards but the scheme itself seems to be working.

Broncos defensive ends Shelby Harris and Derek Wolfe have totaled four and five sacks, respectively, due in part to teams giving extra attention to Miller. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker has totaled four sacks as well.

If Miller stole three sacks from each of those players, he would have 14 sacks so far. That would be a great season for Miller but the team’s sack total would remain the same. It doesn’t really matter where the sacks come from in Fangio’s defense, just as long as they do come.

The Baltimore Ravens are ranked No. 1 and the Cincinnati Bengals are ranked No. 32. To view the complete power rankings, click here.

[vertical-gallery id=627997]

49ers can’t pass Ravens in Week 12 power rankings

The 49ers remained behind the Ravens in the NFL Wire power rankings after a shaky win over the Cardinals.

[jwplayer 6Q40ShvH-ThvAeFxT]

The 49ers remained behind the Baltimore Ravens for the second consecutive week in the NFL Wire power rankings.

It’s hard to find a lot of reasons based on week-to-week performance that San Francisco should eclipse Baltimore. The 49ers have started to stumble right as the Ravens are playing their best football. Baltimore on Sunday waxed the Texans 41-7 at home. Meanwhile, the 49ers struggled to knock off the Cardinals and needed to come back from a 16-0 first-half deficit to limp away with a 36-26 victory.

There’s a silver lining in the last two weeks for the 49ers. They’ve played objectively their worst football of the season, and they’re still 1-1 over those two games, and the loss came in the final seconds of overtime.

What’s important for San Francisco now is bouncing back and regaining the groove they found in a 51-13 win over the Panthers in Week 8. While their schedule down the stretch will likely prevent them from winning many games by 30-plus, that’s the level they’re going to have to play to keep stacking wins. They face the Packers at home, followed by the Ravens and Saints on the road. Green Bay is the No. 2 seed in the NFC. New Orleans is the No. 3 seed in the NFC, and Baltimore is the AFC’s No. 2 seed.

If San Francisco is going to reclaim the top spot in these power rankings, it’s going to mean holding on to the top spot in the NFC.

Some people have questioned the legitimacy of the 49ers’ 9-1 start. Now they have a schedule that’s going to allow them to silence that criticism and establish themselves as the team to beat in the postseason.

Bears fall to No. 23 in USA Today’s Week 12 Power Rankings

The Bears’ latest loss dropped them two spots in USA Today’s NFL Week 12 Power Rankings.

[jwplayer 6Q40ShvH-ThvAeFxT]

The frustration that’s been the Chicago Bears’ 2019 season continued with a deflating 17-7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams last Sunday.

With their playoff hopes on the line, the Bears failed to capitalize on a plethora of opportunities against a struggling Rams team. Whether that was Eddy Pineiro’s two missed field goals, dropped balls by receivers, offensive line struggles or the offense failing to score more than seven points even after the defense forced two early turnovers, it was a game of wasted opportunities.

Following that Week 11 loss, the Bears fell two spots to No. 23 in USA Today’s Week 12 Power Rankings.

Khalil Mack was completely shut out of box score Sunday night despite going against Rams offense line that’s been much maligned this year.

As for the rest of the NFC North, the Green Bay Packers ranked No. 6, the Minnesota Vikings at No. 8 and the Detroit Lions at No. 28.

Seahawks stand at No. 6 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 12 power rankings

Despite having a bye week, the Seattle Seahawks remain at No. 6 in Touchdown Wire’s Week 12 NFL power rankings.

Coming off their bye, the Seattle Seahawks remain in the top 10 of Touchdown Wire’s NFL power rankings. For the second week in a row, Seattle lands at No. 6 heading into Week 12.

Here’s what Doug Farrar wrote:

We’re going to give opposing defenses a little tip here: DO NOT apply man coverage when you’re playing the Seahawks. Just don’t do it. Through the first 10 weeks of the season, per Sports Info Solutions, Russell Wilson completed 79 of 136 passes for 1,022 yards, 14 touchdowns and one interception against any iteration of man coverage. No other quarterback had more than nine touchdowns against man. Rookie receiver DK Metcalf is one of four receivers (Amari Cooper, Mike Evans and Marvin Jones are the others) with five touchdown receptions against man coverage, and Tyler Lockett has four more.

Schematically, this is where we hope for a re-run of Super Bowl XLIX, because the Patriots are by far the NFL’s best man-coverage team, with 10 interceptions and just one touchdown allowed in Cover-0, Cover-1 or 2-Man. Anyone else needs to zone up, because Wilson, one of the NFL’s best quarterbacks in a crowded MVP race, will demolish you if you decide to track his receivers too closely.

But before the Seahawks can eye the Super Bowl or even the playoffs, they must get past the Eagles in Philadelphia this Sunday. Don’t forget, the game has been flexed out of prime time, with kickoff now set for 10 a.m. PT.

[lawrence-related id=51199]

Saints surpass the Patriots in Week 11 NFL Power Rankings

The New Orleans Saints surpassed the New England Patriots in the Week 11 NFL power rankings, but they still trail the San Francisco 49ers.

[jwplayer 6Q40ShvH]

The New Orleans Saints dismantled the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last Sunday, stealing four interceptions from wayward quarterback Jameis Winston and doing whatever they wanted on offense. It was a statement win coming off of their worst loss in recent memory, and established a strong precedent moving forward.

According to the latest NFL power rankings from Doug Farrar over at Touchdown Wire, that performance was enough to vault the Saints ahead of the New England Patriots to rank third-best in the league. Here’s some of what Farrar wrote to justify the Saints’ rise in Week 11:

By bracketing Mike Evans with cornerback P.J. Williams and safety Marcus Williams, New Orleans kept Tampa Bay’s top receiver in check with four receptions on eight targets for 69 yards, and two interceptions when targeted. On offense, Drew Brees was ruthlessly efficient against Tampa Bay’s shredded secondary, completing 28 of 35 passes for 228 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions. Michael Thomas, Brees’ top target, had eight receptions for 114 yards and a touchdown. Thomas has 94 receptions on the season, passing Marvin Harrison and Julio Jones for the most catches in the first 10 games of a season in NFL history.

It was as impressive a win as the Saints have put together this season. The teams ranked ahead of them have posted up some lofty stats of their own, however, and we’ll actually get to see them kick off in two weeks: the San Francisco 49ers are ranked at No. 2, while their next opponent, the Baltimore Ravens, still sits at the top spot. Depending on how that game turns out, the opportunity is there for the Saints to climb even higher.

[vertical-gallery id=22622]

Cardinals drop 2 spots in new USA TODAY power rankings

They enter the bye week ranked no. 25. It is completely fair.

[jwplayer mzLfuiUG-ThvAeFxT]

The Arizona Cardinals lost their fourth straight game on Sunday, falling 36-26 to the San Francisco 49ers and dropping their season record to 3-7-1. with the beginning of Week 12, they enter their bye week a little lower in USA TODAY’s power rankings than they were in Week 11.

This week, they fell two spots to No. 25.

Per Next Gen Stats, Kyler Murray’s average “Air Yards to the Sticks” is minus-2.1. Yep, you’ve got much to learn … about AYTS and whatever significance it has.

It would appear that the stat is being downplayed because Murray has really been fantastic this season. He is up to 14 touchdown passes to only five interceptions. He has 418 rushing yards. He has led them to score at least 25 points in six of the last seven games. He has come off the field late in the fourth quarter or overtime with a lead six times. The team has blown leads in three of those games.

25th is completely fair in terms of the team, though.

What about the rest of the NFC West?

The Los Angeles Rams are 11th this week. The Seattle Seahawks are up a spot to No. 4. The San Francisco 49ers are fifth.

It’s a tough division to be in when you want to rebuild.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Stitcher Radio.

[protected-iframe id=”e1d0fe3745adff805885f9c1789909c9-112738498-106269283″ info=”https://api.spreaker.com/v2/episodes/20006504/download.mp3″ ]

Power rankings: Dolphins beatdown helps Bills in polls

Buffalo Bills in national media power rankings polls heading into Week 12.

The Bills got back to their winning ways in Week 11, topping the Miami Dolphins 37-20.

Buffalo jumped to 7-3 on the year and in the process, saw their stock rise in national power rankings polls.

Here’s a look around those national polls and media outlets and where the Bills sit, heading into Week 12:

USA Today

15. Bills (17): For a change, let’s discuss their impressive attributes … like one turnover in past five games or WR John Brown on pace for 1,300-yard year.

Touchdown Wire

9. Buffalo Bills

(7-3. Last week: 11)

Over his past five games, Bills quarterback Josh Allen has thrown eight touchdown passes and no interceptions. Buffalo is 3-2 in those games, but it’s another indicator that this is an under-the-radar team determined to be taken seriously. Not only was Allen accurate on deep throws in a 37-20 win over the Dolphins in ways he’s struggled to be before, but he’s also gained a command of the offense that could have been called into question in previous stretches. This 40-yard touchdown pass to John Brown was a rocket to exploit a clear hole in zone coverage …

CBS Sports

8. Bills (9)

They rebounded nicely against Miami. Josh Allen had one of his best games. As he improves, so will this team.

ESPN 

12. Buffalo Bills (7-3)
Week 11 ranking: 13

Most underrated player: Jordan Phillips, DT

Phillips is a known commodity among the Bills fan base, but the rest of the league likely will get to know him this coming offseason, as he has played himself into a sizable payday. Despite initially taking a backseat to 2019 first-round pick Ed Oliver, the upcoming free agent trails only Aaron Donald in sacks among defensive tackles with seven and has been a much-needed presence in Buffalo’s interior pass rush.

Sporting News

14. Buffalo Bills, 7-3 (15)

The Bills are good at ripping through bad teams, and they did just that in whipping the Dolphins to stay ahead of surging group of AFC wild-card contenders. They need to beat up on the Broncos next with the Cowboys, Ravens and Patriots around the corner.

Bleacher Report

14. Buffalo Bills (7-3)

High: 11

Low: 18

Last Week: 17

Week 11 Result: Won at Miami 37-20

The Buffalo Bills were one of last week’s biggest droppers, sliding out of the top half of the league after a listless loss to Cleveland.

The Bills got back on the right track Sunday in Miami, demonstrating just the kind of performance the team needs to not only make the postseason but do some damage once there.

The run game was clicking to the tune of 168 yards on 34 carries. The defense allowed just 303 yards and sacked Ryan Fitzpatrick seven times. But quarterback Josh Allen’s performance was most promising.

Allen had one of the better games of his career, completing almost two-thirds of his passes for 256 yards and three touchdowns without an interception.

“Don’t look now, but everyone’s favorite whipping boy, Allen, is playing extremely well,” Sobleski said. “The second-year signal-caller became the first quarterback since Russell Wilson in 2015 with five consecutive games of two touchdowns and zero interceptions. If Allen continues to play well alongside a stout defense, Buffalo goes from pretender to actual contender.”

Of course, Sunday’s performance came against a bad Miami team, but this is Buffalo’s recipe for success against good opponents as well. The defense and run game will probably be there, but Allen will have to make the plays that will win or lose the game.

In Week 11 at least, the young gunslinger came through.

Yahoo! Sports

14 Buffalo Bills, 7-3 (15)

The Bills are good at ripping through bad teams, and they did just that in whipping the Dolphins to stay ahead of surging group of AFC wild-card contenders. They need to beat up on the Broncos next with the Cowboys, Ravens and Patriots around the corner.

NFL.com 

14. Bills (7-3)

Previous rank: No. 16

That was a game the Bills needed. Go on the road, against an AFC East foe, and rip them up. Buffalo rolled up season highs in total yards (424) and points in a 37-20 win over the Dolphins. Josh Allen led the Bills to points in six of their first eight possessions, quickly taking the drama out of the proceedings — a welcome change of pace for a team that has too often been asking the defense to close out tight games late in the fourth quarter. It’s a good look for Bills head coach Sean McDermott, who let it be known in the week leading up to the game that he was seeking more from the Bills’ offense, which entered Week 11 ranked 23rd in the league. The question now becomes whether or not the Bills can sustain this offensive boom. Their playoff hopes might ride on it.

[lawrence-related id=48812,48849,48895,48695]

NFL Power Rankings Week 12: Lions hold steady in the early twenties

The Week 12 national NFL Power Rankings have been released and the Detroit Lions are holding steady in the early twenties in most rankings.

[jwplayer 6Q40ShvH-ThvAeFxT]

The Week 12 national NFL Power Rankings have been released and the Detroit Lions (3-6-1) are holding steady in the early twenties in most rankings.

Let’s take a look at where the Lions stand in the national eye.

USA Today: 28 (Previous: 27)

“Did they find gem in former Alabama RB Bo Scarbrough, who ran for 55 yards in debut? No other Detroit back averages 55 rush yards per game in 2019.” — Nate Davis

Touchdown Wire: 22 (Previous: 23)

“The Lions faced an interesting question in Sunday’s game against the Cowboys. Would they stick with their primary man coverages against a Dallas passing offense that has been highly effective against that kind of tight coverage this season? Only Seattle’s Russell Wilson has a higher passer rating this season against man coverage than Dak Prescott’s 110.5. So in the end, it was fairly predictable that a defense that wants to play man coverage most of the time and isn’t very good at it — Detroit has allowed seven touchdown passes to just one interception in man coverage this season — would find itself at Prescott’s mercy. Dallas’ quarterback completed 29 of 46 passes for 444 yards, three touchdowns and no interceptions in a 35-27 win. Detroit’s offense couldn’t quite keep up, though backup Jeff Driskel played decently in place of Matthew Stafford, who could miss several weeks with a back injury. What becomes apparent is that Detroit’s desire to align itself with a specific defensive philosophy, and the abilities of their players to execute that philosophy, are at a distinct impasse.” — Doug Farrar

NFL: 25 (Previous: 24)

“Same old story for the Lions, who can score points (with or without Matthew Stafford) but have a defense that’s a total liability. The unit was unable to get any pressure on Dak Prescott, who roasted the Lions for 444 yards and three touchdowns in Dallas’ 35-27 win over Detroit. The Lions’ issues are manifold: They can’t rush the quarterback, they can’t cover in the secondary and they don’t force turnovers. They’re on pace for their worst defensive season, from a total yardage allowed standpoint, worse even than the winless 2008 team. It’s a shame, too, because Jeff Driskel showed us once again that he has some ability. The backup quarterback — starting in place of the injured Stafford for the second straight week — made plays with his arm and legs, and he even had Detroit on Dallas’ side of the field in the final minutes with a chance to tie. The kid gives them a shot … the defense doesn’t.” — Dan Hanzus

ESPN: 21 (Previous: 21)

“Most underrated player: Marvin Jones Jr. wide receiver. It might sound weird that a known quantity would be underrated, but Jones has been a consistently strong presence since signing with Detroit in 2016. He is tied for the NFL lead in touchdowns with eight and has had four or more catches in eight games this season. He has been playing under a reasonable contract and people know who he is, but his overall value to the Lions often goes unnoticed because of the presence of Kenny Golladay and the team’s collective struggles.” — Michael Rothstein

CBS Sports: 23 (Previous 23)

“Why would Matt Stafford play again this season? Shut him down. This season is over.” — Pete Prisco

Sports Illustrated: 24 (Previous: 24)

“A full week of prep helped Jeff Driskel (15-of-26, 209 yards, 2 TDs, 109.3 rating), but Detroit couldn’t stay in it late without their trusty starter, especially since Driskel almost lead the way on the ground with eight rushes for 51 yards and a touchdown.” — MMQB staff

Sporting News: 23 (Previous: 22)

“The Lions are showing plenty of offensive fight with Jeff Driskel filling in for Matthew Stafford, but their defense takes turns being destroyed by the run and the pass, much to the chagrin of Matt Patricia after the team’s big offseason investments.” — Vinnie Iyer

NFL Week 12 power rankings: Rams slotted lower than four 5-5 teams

The Rams stayed put in this week’s power rankings, slotted below the Steelers and Panthers.

[jwplayer 6Q40ShvH-ThvAeFxT]

With their playoff hopes hanging in the balance, the Rams needed a win in the worst way on Sunday night – especially after the Vikings and 49ers had already won earlier in the day. They seized the opportunity and beat the Bears 17-7, improving their record to 6-4.

The Rams entered Week 11 at No. 18 in Doug Farrar’s power rankings for Touchdown Wire, so surely this victory would be enough to push them up at least a few spots, right? Not exactly. They stayed put at No. 18, which is the lowest position for any 6-4 team.

In fact, the Rams are ranked behind four 5-5 teams in the power rankings: the Steelers (17), Panthers (16), Titans (15) and Eagles (14).

Here’s Farrar’s explanation for putting the Rams where he did.

Incredibly, the Rams came into their Sunday night game against the Bears without having scored an offensive touchdown in 19 straight drives. Things didn’t get any better on their first drive, when Todd Gurley fumbled on his team’s first play from scrimmage. Jared Goff ended the Rams’ second drive with a truly awful interception to linebacker Roquan Smith on a sideline throw. Sean McVay’s offense finally broke the streak on their fifth drive of the evening, when Gurley scored on a 1-yard touchdown run. The Rams kept their postseason hopes alive with a 17-7 win, but not all is well with that offense. Per Next Gen Stats, Jared Goff was pressured on just one of his 18 dropbacks, but he was able to complete just 11 passes in 18 attempts for 173 yards, no touchdowns, that really bad pick, and a couple of decent throws called back by penalties. The heat map shows a quarterback who can’t carry the offense on his back, and the dropback total reveals a coaching staff well aware of that fact.

There’s no doubt the Rams are struggling to find their identity on offense, and they certainly aren’t deserving of being ranked inside the top 10. However, putting them behind the Panthers, who were blown out by the Falcons and who the Rams already beat in Week 1, is surprising.

The Steelers beat the Rams, so that makes some sense, but the Titans and Eagles have worse records than Los Angeles and hardly look like playoff contenders.

All the Rams can do is take care of what they can control by winning the games on their schedule. Next up is a big test against the Ravens on Monday Night Football. If they win that game, they’ll definitely make a jump in every analyst’s power rankings.

[vertical-gallery id=625717]