Author: DrafttekStaff_McGlothlin | Filed under: Uncategorized

Rick McGlothlin / Drafttek.com Senior Writer

Wild, wild endings all over on Sunday in the NFL, and the AFC playoff picture is about as clear as mud right about now.  Six teams have records of 7-7 with two weeks left in the season. In the NFC, Minnesota let the Saints off the hook with a loss in Carolina Sunday night, so New Orleans still has the inside track on homefield throughout the playoffs even thought they lost.  Green Bay and Dallas are holding down the wildcard spots with identical 9-5 records….but all the pressure is now on the Packers, as the Giants victory over Washington puts them right on the tail of Green Bay in the playoff race.

 

Speaking of that first loss of the year for the Saints, their stumble on Saturday leaves the Indianapolis Colts as the lone undefeated team (and the new #1 in this weeks rankings) in the NFL.  as the season boils down to a two week sprint and playoff spots hang in the balance for a few more teams. With that, here’s the rundown of the power rankings for week 15 : 

 

1.(2) Indianapolis (14-0) – Say what you want about the reasons for having to come from behind 7 times to win a game this season, but the fact is each of those 7 times it was a successful comeback and the winning streak continues. And it’s not like they were playing the Purdue Boilermakers. Jacksonville is a tough divisional opponent with one of the top running attacks and a solid defense. Well, except for Reggie Nelson – but he’s still a youngster. The Colts have not played a game at 100% peak efficiency all year nor have they had every single player healthy at one time in any game this season. If that happens during the playoffs, I’m thinking a comeback may not be necessary – even against the Chargers.

 

2. (1) New Orleans (13-1) – Certainly a forgettable night in many respects for a ballclub that has been the toast of the league much of the year. What stood out in their first loss of the season was the disaster along the offensive line and the inability of the defensive secondary for much of the game. Third downs were a death knell for the Saints as well on both offense and defense. Sure, Drew Brees tossed a couple of passes he normally wouldn’t, but when your O-line is leaking like a sieve, drastic times call for drastic measures. And Devery Henderson’s imitation of former Cowboy wideout Jackie Smith’s dropped pass in the endzone didn’t help matters any. Still, no need for panic as some of the players that didn’t play get healthy and can close out the season with a couple of wins ( home to Tampa and closing at Carolina) and gain homefield advantage.

 

 

 

3.(4) San Diego (11-3) – Give San Diego credit in this game as they faced an emotional charged Bengal team that would not go away. It took a lucky break with the officials not calling a second 10-second runoff of the clock on a non-called penalty (LT coming onto the field illegally) and one bad defensive play not forcing San Diego receivers into the middle of the field on the final pass play from Rivers to set up the game-winner by Nate Kaeding. However, the Chargers win their 9th in a row and clinch their 4th straight division crown and travel to Tennessee on Thursday for a Christmas night matchup with the Titans.

 

4.(3) Minnesota (11-3) – On a night when the Vikings could inch closer to homefield advantage and really turn the heat up on the New Orleans Saints, they instead turned the heat up on themselves by stumbling against the Carolina Panthers. What’s more, Minnesota has provided the media with some yummy fodder to jabber about for the next few weeks regarding the “discussion” between coach Childress and Brett Favre on the sidelines. Seems coach thought QB should come out of the game with the Vikes holding a one point lead at 7-6. I’m trying to figure that one out – Chilly said it was to “protect” Favre – as one usually does not pull out a starting QB unless they’re struggling or the game means little. So, which one was it? And why didn’t the QB follow the orders of his coach? And who is running the team since Favre basically told him to “pack sand.” That’ll be the topic over the course of the next several days, if not weeks.

 

5.(5) Philadelphia (10-4) – Started out like they would send the 49ers home in all sorts of pieces, but someone must have turned the switch off at halftime, because there was a really long “pause” in production after that for the Eagles. But in the end, Philadelphia used McNabb’s arm, Jacksons big play performance helped Philly remain the favorite (for now) in the NFC East.

 

6.(6) Cincinnati (9-5) –  Not sure how you recover from the shock that one of your key offensive components is killed in a domestic incident. Especially after having had to go through the traumatic loss of life to one of the coaches family members just a few weeks earlier. No doubt it won’t be held against them if they falter down the stretch with so much taking place off the field.

 

7.(8) Dallas (9-5) – What a solid showing for Tony Romo and the Dallas Cowboys. After suffering through the onslaught of media musings about their struggles in December (including from yours truly as well) the Cowboys come through big time in one of the most intimidating venues in all of sport. Give huge props to DeMarcus Ware for coming right back from a frightening injury and playing a tremendous game, as well as former Boilermaker Anthony Spencer – who dumped his fellow alum Drew Brees several times in the game. The line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball belonged to Dallas for nearly 90% of the game. Now tied for first in the NFC East, Dallas still has business to take care of beginning with a trip next week to D.C., and a finale against co-division leader Philly. If the Cowboys make a run in the playoffs, this specific game could be the launching point that turned their season around.

 

8.(8) Arizona (9-5) – Up 17-0 on the lowly Lions, the Cardinals pushed “autopilot” much too soon, because everyone seemed to disengage and go their separate ways in this one. I think Detroit definitely got their attention when they tied it not once, but twice, late in the game. Once Arizona came back to their senses, they scored and were then able to hold off a final charge by the Lions. Not a way to prep for a playoff run, but it does beat the alternative of losing down the stretch. Beanie Wells with a nice job of running up the gut against the Lions before getting a little nicked up late. Next up is the St. Louis Rams.

 

9. (7) Green Bay – (9-5) They had the game won, seemingly, going up 36-30 after the onside kick by Pittsburgh backfired and gave the Pack excellent field position. But Green Bay’s defense did what both defenses were extremely good at all day long. Not playing defense. Green Bay allowed over 500 yards in passing alone.

 

10.(10) New England (9-5) – Not an awe inspiring win by any stretch of the imagination, but they got the job done despite sweating out the late rally by the Bills. Of course, it seems worse than it probably is because the Pats have handed Buffalo a loss in 18 of the past 20 games they’ve played, some even closer than this one. One thing is still certain: New England is not a powerhouse any longer. Absolutely loved Randy Moss and his postgame comments. Preach it brother.

 

11.(13) Baltimore (8-6) – The Ravens demolish the Bears as they pick off Jay Cutler three times while the offense cashed in on the miscues. Joe Flacco was hot on a frigid December night, passing for over 230 yards and 4 touchdown strikes, while Ray Rice put up 84 yards on the ground for good measure. Next up is a trip to Pittsburgh, followed by a finale on the road in Oakland – both will be tough road tests that determine if the Ravens will be in the post-season mix.

 

12(12). New York Giants (8-6) – Still a pulse left in the GMen….and a pretty strong one at that. A thorough thumping of the Redskins on the road brings the NFC East into the final two weeks in the season with what should be a wild finish and a potential of three NFC East teams making the playoffs. If Green Bay loses its final two games, it would open the door for the Giants to join Philly and Dallas in the playoff picture.

 

13.(20) Tennessee (7-7) – Vince Young returns and the Titans hold off a valiant effort by Miami to keep alive in the division race with New England. Now they’re just one of several 7-7 teams hoping for a miracle to slide into the playoff picture, but they’re much better than 7-7 when you consider they have won 7 out of their last 8 games, with the lone loss coming to Indy on the road.

 

 14.(9) Denver (8-6) – Seemingly in control of the game, the Broncos must have collectively been thinking of post-game dinner arrangements because someone forgot to tell Oakland that it was over. Incredible collapse at home, settling too often for field goals instead of redzone touchdowns and now are precariously close to the edge in post-season arrangements.

 

 

15.(16) Atlanta (7-7) – No playoffs to play for, just pride and the principle of winning. When it looked like it wasn’t to be, the Falcons pull off a last minute win to upend the Jets on their home turf. How fitting it was that the young gun Mattie Ice hitting the aging vet Tony Gonzalez for the winning TD.

 

16.(15) N.Y. Jets (7-7) – First of all, a huge thumbs down to the classless Jet fans who were throwing snowballs onto the field all around the line of scrimmage during the Falcon scoring drive late in the game. I hope someone pointed them out to police and they end up in jail for attempted assault. It’s ridiculous. The Jets FG unit missed three FG attempts while Mark Sanchez tossed 3 interceptions against one of the more easy secondary units in the NFL….dropping yet another home game. But guess what? They’re still in the running for a playoff spot and have the Colts up next…..and Indy probably will pull starters after the first half at the latest.

 

17.(14) Miami (7-7) – Up until this game, Chad Henne was moving into “Best emerging young QB” territory. He still might wear that well even after his 3 pick day against the Titans, but with this loss, the Dolphins lost a shot to solidify that final wildcard playoff spot. 

 

18.(17) Pittsburgh (7-7) – Despite the bizarre onside kick decision with a newly acquired lead late in the game, the Steelers manage to swap leads with Green Bay four times in the final eight minutes of play – the last time with no seconds remaining on the clock and a Big Ben touchdown pass to , followed by the game-winning FG by . But seriously, 800+ yards total offense in the game by both teams?

 

19.(18) Jacksonville (7-7) – QB David Garrard played exceptionally well throughout the game against Indy…until right at the end. Threw for 3 TD passes but his defense could not stop Peyton Manning. Pretty much the norm in the history between these two teams. They haven’t been as dominant as Tennessee in the past 8 weeks, but they still hold the tie breaker over the Titans should they need that to make the playoffs.

 

20.(19) Houston (7-7) -  Andre Johnson put on another great performance for the Texans, and Houston joins a bevy of teams sitting at 7-7 with aspirations of  a season-reviving playoff spot landing in their lap.  Sorry gang, that’s one Christmas present Santa can’t bring you – you had your chances against Indy and Tennessee last month.

 

21.(21) San Francisco (6-8) – Looked to be on the verge of getting blown out by halftime, the 49ers make a charge but can’t reel in the Eagles.

 

22.(25) Carolina (6-8) – Didn’t look like they were playing a top-caliber playoff team on Sunday night, did it? But it did look a little like a playoff game for the Panthers, because it’s as close as they’ll get to one this year.

 

23.(22) Chicago (5-9) – Jay Cutler might be the only QB in NFL history to go from Pro Bowl caliber to most despised by fans of his teams – all in just one 6 month period of time. The Bears have now lost 8 of their last 10 games and this one probably signals the end for coach Lovie Smith, if there weren’t enough signals already.

 

24.(27) Oakland (5-9) – The QB carousel was in full swing in Denver as Frye and Russell both led Oakland to a win, with Jamarcus making some crucial plays down the stretch to pull out a “W” in Denver.

 

25.(23) Buffalo (5-9) – Gave it the ‘ole college try, which really doesn’t work that well in the pro’s.

 

 26.(26) Washington (4-10) – I think that game pretty much solidified the sentiment regarding Jim Zorn and his future connection with this organization. Fair or not, he’s going to take the brunt of responsibility for the failure of this team and new GM Bruce Allen will surely be replacing him soon after the final second of the final game.  But the Skins are still better than the Seahawks.

 

27.(24) Seattle (5-9) – Intersting note by Adam Shecter on a Twitter message Sunday when he stated: ” By losing to Tampa Bay, Seattle helped St. Louis get the #1 pick in the NFL draft and now the Seahawks might have to face Suh in NFC West.” That is a good catch and if anyone thinks the Rams won’t take Suh first in the draft, they’re out of their minds.

 

28.(29) Detroit (2-12) – Still have to rank this club above the two other 3-win teams because they are just playing all out and forcing good teams into tight finishes.

 

29.(30) Cleveland (3-11) – Where has the Cleveland coaching staff been hiding Jerome Harrison? All he did was take over the game from Josh Cribbs after Cribbs got the party started with two TD returns. Cribbs now finds himself at the top of NFL return history while Jerome Harrison makes a big impact after playing incognito for the past four years after coming to the NFL from Washington State.

 

30.(28) Kansas City (3-11) – Did Todd Haley not study all week? Kick it to Josh Cribbs? Twice? Nice job – most laymen in coaching wouldn’t be that stubborn. Great effort by the Chiefs battling back and forcing OT, but imagine how the game would’ve turned out had they not kicked off twice to Cribbs.

 

31.(31) Tampa Bay (2-12) – Great effort by Josh Freeman and the Bucs to go into Seattle and cut down a Seahawks team that is usually tough to beat at home.  Freeman tossed two TD passes and made the Seahawks pay for their 5 turnovers.

 

32.(32) St. Louis ( 1-13) – Lost the game but will gain the first pick in the upcoming draft and inch closer to turning the program around. Imagine DE’s Long and Carriker with Suh blasting up the middle. Wow. Plenty of talent available in the rounds after their first pick, so just go ahead mark down Suh as the first selection of the 2010 NFL Draft. It’s a no-brainer.