The Sports Inquirer

 

Music to listen to: Inventions by Maserati

We’re six weeks into the NFL season, so the time seems right to do my first edition of the Power Rankings. I’ll give you my individual thoughts on the top-10 teams and sprinkle some commentary when deemed necessary for the rest.

1) Denver Broncos (5-0): When Peyton Manning was dealing with his neck injuries three years ago, I publicly stated that he should retire. While I still worry about him taking the wrong hit and suffering a catastrophic injury (if you watched the game, Manning’s facemask was grabbed and his neck was jerked in a nasty way making me concerned), he’s taken his game to another level. What’s interesting about the Broncos is that their offense, which consists mostly of Decker, Welker and Thomas in three receiver sets with Manning in shotgun, is that it would have been more difficult to pull off 20 years ago when defenses were allowed to be more physical. Denver is running a modern-day run and shoot in a video game style. I also found it interesting that Denver is in the top-five in offensive plays per game. Defensively, they’re giving up 24 points per game which is below-average. Denver isn’t going undefeated, especially in a now-respectable AFC West, but if Von Miller can eventually return and help out with a pass rush, the road to the Super Bowl will go through Denver in the AFC.

2) New Orleans Saints (5-0): Someone on local sports talk radio here in Atlanta (I’d give the guy credit if I remembered who it was) said that if he was building an NFL franchise in 2013, he’d pick the quarterback first, than worry about protecting him and then finally finding ways to sack the opponent’s QB. While this has been known since Otto Graham and Johnny Unitas played, the Saints are showing this in full force this season with the offensive line giving Drew Brees time to be the best statistical passer outside of P. Manning and 10 different New Orleans defenders registering sacks this season so far.

3) Kansas City Chiefs (5-0): When you give up the fewest points per game (11.6) in the NFL and have a top-10 rushing attack, you’re going to be in many contests. Coming from behind will be an offensive challenge for the Chiefs but for now, they’ve been the surprise of the NFL…or are they? Kansas City features a top-10 head coach (Andy Reid), a top-15 quarterback (Alex Smith), a top-10 defensive player (Eric Berry) and several other Pro Bowlers. They should be a winning team, bordering on 10 wins.

4) Indianapolis Colts (4-1): Indy is the best team in the NFC West…beating the 49ers and Seahawks in the same season is impressive. I still say that Trent Richardson will make his impact felt by the end of the season. As I stated here before, it will take him half the season to get adjusted to the Indy offense. When this happens, major things will happen for the Colts who look to be in the driver’s seat to win the AFC South.

5) Seattle Seahawks (4-1): No panic for the Hawks who lost on the road to a solid Colts team. Would like to see more production from the wide receivers though.

6) San Francisco 49ers (3-2): Like that San Fran has returned to its formula of running the ball and playing solid defense. After the season-opener against Green Bay when Colin Kaepernick threw for more than 300 yards, the temptation was to let him throw it more. The offense sputtered but now is back in form. What’s not in order is the Alton Smith situation.

7) New England Patriots (4-1): The Pats have become known as an offensive team the past six to seven years and deservedly so with Tom Brady putting together a Hall of Fame-caliber career. However, New England’s defense has struggled the past few seasons which has caused early postseason exits for the team. Now, the Pats have allowed the second-fewest points (14.0) per game this season and looks more primed to make a postseason run.

8) Chicago Bears (3-2): We’ll learn something about the Bears against the Giants on Thursday. If Chicago wants to make a march towards the postseason, it must dominate a bad New York team at home. BTW, the Bears have a top-five offense but a defense that’s allowing 28 points per game showing a true role reversal for that team in comparison to the last few seasons.

9) Cincinnati Bengals (3-2): Good wins (New England, Green Bay), bad loss (Cleveland) and a puddle of meh so far for the ‘Natti. This is prime time for the Bengals to win the AFC North with Pittsburgh regressing, Baltimore’s inconsistency and Cleveland showing spunk but not invincible. I don’t think you can place it all on Andy Dalton or the coaching. The defense has been OK as well. Odd team to figure out.

10) Baltimore Ravens (3-2): Stay healthy Ray Rice.

11) Green Bay Packers (2-2)

12) Miami Dolphins (3-2)

13) Detroit Lions (3-2)

14) New York Jets (3-2): Raise your hand if you had the Jets at 3-2 with Geno Smith taking center stage on national TV during a Monday night game. Yeah, me neither.

15) Dallas Cowboys (2-3): When you lose a game 51-48, I tend not to blame the quarterback who threw for 506 yards for his team losing. Yes, that was a bad fourth quarter interception that Tony Romo threw but Dallas wouldn’t have been in that game without his strong performance before that. I’ve been a big Romo critic in the past but its been overkill this week. Worry about that Cowboys defense first.

16) Cleveland Browns (3-2)

17) Tennessee Titans (3-2)

18) Houston Texans (2-3): Find your running game Houston and that would help the cause.

19) Arizona Cardinals (3-2)

20) Minnesota Vikings (1-3): Time to put the Minneapolis/St. Paul house on the market Christian Ponder.

21) Washington Redskins (1-3): I STILL think Washington can win the NFC East and make a run in the playoffs.

22) St. Louis Rams (2-3)

23) Oakland Raiders (2-3)

24) San Diego Chargers (2-3)

25) Philadelphia Eagles (2-3)

26) Atlanta Falcons (1-4): Unlike the Chiefs, when you can’t protect the quarterback, can’t rush the quarterback and can’t run the ball, you end up 1-4 like Atlanta. It’s that simple.

27) Buffalo Bills (2-3)

28) Carolina Panthers (1-3): The Panthers have the third-best defense in the NFL yet only one win.

29) Tampa Bucs (0-4)

30) Pittsburgh Steelers (0-4)

31) New York Giants (0-5): Some want to blame the defense. Some want to blame Tom Coughlin. Some are blaming Eli Manning. There’s enough blame to throw around, no need to fight it.

32) Jacksonville Jaguars (0-5)