Chris Maier, one of the original SP editors and a former C-U resident, now contributes to the magazine as an editorial adviser, occasional writer, and general helping hand. These days, he's the creative director at Poccuo www.poccuo.com, a Washington, D.C.-based interactive communications firm.
If you’re a fan of the gridiron — NFL or college — this has got to be a great a time of year for you. Rankings and standings are reshaping themselves and games are beginning to take on greater weight. But perhaps what’s best about this time of year is the opportunity to sit back and enjoy the surprises. For instance, Vince Young’s out of the picture in Tennessee and yet the Titans boast one of only two undefeated records in the league. The down-and-out Dolphins are no longer down or out, but rather soundly in business as the team that specializes in upsets. Even right here in Illinois, the Kyle Orton surprise has given Bears fans plenty of unexpected October optimism. So enjoy the surprises the game dishes up, and dig into this week's rankings.
1. New York Giants (1)
Sorry to say it, Plax, but the Giants know how to win without you. And with a game this week against the Browns, the Giants should have victory secured by the end of the first half — regardless of what the reinstated Plaxico Burress does on the field.
2. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)
How many points do you get for toughness? Last week, the answer was 26 — the number of points a battered Pittsburgh team needed to take down their established rivals down in Jacksonville.
3. Dallas Cowboys (3)
A couple of sloppy weeks for the Cowboys probably have them wishing that the bye week wasn’t all the way in week ten. And they can’t afford to look that far ahead. The Arizona Cardinals welcome Dallas to Arizona this weekend, and the Cardinals, after a thumping of the Bills on the road, are hoping to give their home fans a treat.
4. Tennessee Titans (5)
A lot of good players + not many egotistical superstars = a team to reckoned with. Is it possible that the Titans, one of the NFL’s big surprises heading into week 6, will end up atop the AFC South this year?
5. Washington Redskins (11)
Yes, three of the top five teams in this week’s rankings hail from the NFC East. And the Redskins, with solid play in every phase of the game, are playing like a team wants to ascent to the NFC East throne. They have a little more to do, though, before the Giants will give that piece of furniture up.
6. Chicago Bears (7)
7. Carolina Panthers (14)
8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (8)
9. Buffalo Bills (4)
10. Denver Broncos (13)
11. Philadelphia Eagles (6)
This is an underperforming team right now — something Donovan McNabb readily admits on his blog. Will the long flight to San Fran lead the Eagles to a much needed turnaround? Tune in Sunday.
12. Arizona Cardinals (21)
You beat one of two undefeated teams (in fact, the Cardinals whomped the Bills 41–17 last week) and you earn the privilege of being taken seriously. But remember: This is a privilege, not a right.
13. New York Jets (15)
True, they had a bye last week, but they still get to climb in the rankings. With a few days’ rest behind them and a broken Bengals squad ahead, Favre and the boys should be poised to continue on their quest to becoming a synched-up and formidable football team.
14. Indianapolis Colts (16)
15. New Orleans Saints (10)
16. New England Patriots (18)
17. Atlanta Falcons (25)
18. San Diego Chargers (9)
19. Green Bay Packers (12)
20. Miami Dolphins (24)
Who are these once-putrid teams surging into the ranks of the respectable? Break out your bong, Mr. Williams — looks like good times ahead in Miami.
21. Minnesota Vikings (26)
22. Jacksonville Jaguars (17)
23. Baltimore Ravens (20)
24. San Francisco 49ers (23)
25. Seattle Seahawks (19)
26. Houston Texans (27)
27. Cincinnati Bengals (30)
28. Cleveland Browns (28)
29. Kansas City Chiefs (22)
Last week I asked: “Is it possible that LJ and the boys know how to play the game?” This week I answer: “No.”
30. Oakland Raiders (29)
31. Detroit Lions (31)
32. St. Louis Rams (32)
Comments (4)
Friday, October 10, 2008 9:45 AM
You said the Titans boast the only undefeated record in the league, but The Giants are undefeated as well, no?
Friday, October 10, 2008 9:54 AM
And furthermore, the Bears at 6? A spot above the 4-1 Panthers, who beat the Bears? You sure you're not a little biased?
Orton's doing well, but not well enough to carry the team once the defense gets tired around game 10. And it's nice to see Brandon Lloyd playing as well as we hoped he could, but . . . I'm angry at the Bears for beating the Eagles. That's what's really going on here.
Friday, October 10, 2008 10:13 AM
Pat, you're absolutely right about the Giants, and thanks for the pointing that out. I've made the necessary corrections above. Not sure how a team that's been so dominant this year (the Giants, that is) ends up in my blind spot.
As for the Bears, though, I'm seeing a team that's on the way up. Orton is playing well—but more importantly, playing better each week. His receivers seem to trust him, and Forte (undoubtedly one of the league's rising talents) knows how conduct his business behind (and beside and in front of) Orton. And that defense may get tired, you're right, but for now they're looking like a force to be reckoned with—and that's what I'm basing these rankings on.
I will say, for the record, I'm a central Pennsylvania guy who's never been a Bears fan and don't plan on becoming one anytime soon. If you want to call me out on a Steelers bias, though...well, I might be a little more vulnerable to that criticism.
Thanks for reading and writing.
Saturday, October 11, 2008 9:31 AM
Hmm, maybe I didn't realize that you're biased for the Steelers because of my own bias. My dad's from Philly, my mom's from Pittsburgh and my family lives in and around those cities, so I love both teams. Luckily, they're not in the same division so I don't have to feel bad about liking them both.
I also haven't been able to catch more than snippets of a Steelers game yet this year, so I'll believe you if you tell me they're #2. I just hope the Titans don't end up in the Superbowl. I hate it when teams I just don't give a shit about play in the Superbowl. The Raiders/Bucs year was SO BORING.
(Teams I care about: San Fran, Philly, Pittsburgh, New England, Chicago. Each season, I try to guess the best of those teams and root for them all season - when the Pats played Philly last year, I must admit that to the chagrin of my family I was rooting for New England. This season I chose the Eagles, which looks like it may have been a mistake.)