2011 NFL Power Rankings: Week 8
Week 7 Top Fantasy Performers, Defenses

1. Green Bay Packers (7-0) - Previously: #1 - Did the Packers really have to let Christian Ponder backdoor them and cost me $440 in the process? Jerks.
   
   Maybe I should take some betting advice from NFL.com from now on. Take a look at the picture they posted in their Packers-Vikings page prior to the game:
   
   
   
   "How in hell does that arrow indicate a 'slight edge?'" I thought beforehand. Now I know. NFL.com knew this game was fixed.
   
   
2. New England Patriots (5-1) - Previously: #2 - I want to clear something I received a ton of e-mails about. Throughout my Week 7 NFL Picks pages, I stated that teams coming off byes were screwed this year because they wouldn't be able to practice and improve on things per the new post-lockout rules.
   
   I didn't mean all teams. I meant just the crappy ones. If you've noticed, crappy and sub-par teams coming off their bye have looked dreadful this year. Good teams won't have this problem because they're, well, good.
   
   An example of this is New England. I don't expect them to struggle whatsoever in Week 8 because Tom Brady and the other captains organized player-only workouts during the bye. I have to imagine that they'll be sharp at Pittsburgh.
   
   I can only imagine what some of the other crappier teams did with their week off. Perhaps Kevin Kolb found Derek Anderson's magic flask buried in the catacombs of the Cardinals locker room - because he sure as hell played like he had one too many sips against the Steelers.
   
   
3. New Orleans Saints (5-2) - Previously: #3 - The Saints just slaughtered the Colts, and now they get to do the same thing with the Rams. It's a shame they don't play the Dolphins this year.
   
   Speaking of Miami and St. Louis, I found this interesting:
   
   In NFL history, there have been only four teams to start 0-6 without covering the spread once:
   
   1989 Cowboys
   1991 Colts
   1991 Bengals
   1998 Redskins
   
   The 2011 Rams and 2011 Dolphins are now on that list (depending on what spread you had in the Miami-Cleveland game).
   
   By the way, the worst a team has ever started was 0-8 straight up and against the spread. The '91 Bengals did that before winning their ninth game.
   
   
4. San Francisco 49ers (5-1) - Previously: #5 - Prior to the 2011 NFL Draft, I found an interesting (and stupid) comment in a 49ers forum:
   
   49ERS TRADE 2011 AND 2012 1ST RD PICKS FOR QB CARSON PALMER.
   
   Phew. I guess Jimmy Harbs dodged a bullet there.
   
   
5. Buffalo Bills (4-2) - Previously: #6 - The Bills just had a bye week, so let's go to Notes from NFL.com GameCenter - a list of a few stupid comments I read on NFL.com's GameCenter and my thoughts on them:
   
   1. "Fitz brings so much good moral to his team, no wonder those guys are playing like a unit."
   
   The moral of the story is that GameCenter people are idiots.
   
   2. "Sorry for the second post.....the first did'nt show for 20 min. My computor blows!"
   
   Maybe you're the one who blows.
   
   3. "JUST SO YAW KNO... LOTS OF EXPERTS ARE PIKEIN US TO WIN... WE WILL WIN!"
   
   I wouldn't base it off that. Experts can't really pike games correctly all the time.
   
   
6. Baltimore Ravens (4-2) - Previously: #4 - A recap of the Ravens-Jaguars game:
   
   1. Three hours prior to kickoff, Tony Kornheiser and Michael Wilbon had the following exchange on PTI:
   
   Kornheiser: How can the Jaguars win this game?
   
   Wilbon: Forfeiture.
   
   Not so much, though you can't exactly blame Wilbon for saying that. No one gave the Jaguars a chance in hell of winning. They were 10-point home underdogs facing a team coming off a blowout against the Texans.
   
   2. This was brutal to watch though. I can sit through any game, even a preseason tilt between the Browns and Dolphins, but I almost felt the urge to switch over to the World Series. Almost.
   
   The Ravens couldn't move the ball whatsoever. They had 16 total yards of offense in the first half - the fewest yards any team has had in a first half since the 2009 Bengals, who had nothing to play for in their finale against the Jets.
   
   Joe Flacco's throws were all over the place. He completely missed his receivers and made poor decisions. The offensive line's ineptness didn't help, but I thought John Harbaugh should have considered Tyrod Taylor. I reasoned the following on the forum:
   
   In baseball, if a pitcher struggles, even if it's an ace, you take him out of the game. I'd take Flacco out of the game.
   
   Flacco eventually engineered a touchdown drive, finishing 21-of-38 for 137 yards, one score and a pick, but it was too little too late.
   
   3. It wasn't just Flacco sucking for Baltimore. Ray Rice had only 28 yards on eight carries. He also fumbled twice, prompting forum member RoflDogs to comment:
   
   Two fumbles from Ray Rice in the same half?? Every team that Walt bets on is cursed.
   
   Seriously. Teams should start paying me to pick against them.
   
   4. It wasn't much prettier for the Jaguars. Blaine Gabbert was only slightly better than Flacco, going 9-of-20 for 93 yards. Maurice Jones Drew (30-105) fumbled three times, including once at the Baltimore 1-yard line (though one fumble was a bad hand-off by Gabbert).
   
   5. By the way, NFL, please stop it with these f***ing ridiculous roughing calls. Bernard Pollard tackled a receiver in the chest and was whistled for a personal foul. It was completely clean, much like numerous other hits this weekend that were flagged.
   
   The officiating was awful all night, lending credence to those who believed Vegas fixed this contest to earn money back from an awful weekend for them. I personally would like to know why Rashean Mathis was allowed to mug receivers 10 yards downfield on every single play. It's like this was some bizarre football game from the 1990s when you were able to hit wideouts past five yards.
   
   6. Some interesting exchanges in the Live In-Games Thread at the expense of Flacco:
   
   EllijayFalconsFan: Matt Ryan > Joe Flacco
   
   VBSiena: Matt Ryan > Mark Sanchez > Joe Flacco
   
   Me: Derek Anderson > Jimmy Clausen > Matt Moore > Joe Flacco
   
   Steven Lourie: Derek Anderson > Jimmy Clausen > Matt Moore > Joe Flacco > Blaine Gabbert
   
   McNulty: Vietnamese Food > Thai Food > Chinese Food
   
   
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) - Previously: #9 - I'm not sure how good the Steelers are. Their wins have come against the Seahawks (2-4), who were playing a dreaded early game on the East Coast, Cardinals (1-5), Colts (0-7) by three points, Titans (3-3) without Kenny Britt and Jaguars (2-5) by four points.
   
   Meanwhile, the only team they played currently in the Top 10 is Baltimore, whom they lost to by 28.
   
   
8. New York Giants (4-2) - Previously: #10 - The Giants may be in the first place at the moment, but don't expect that to last too long. Well, at least one GameCenter person thinks so:
   
   COWBOYS ARE THE BEST TEAM ON THE PLANET OF ANY SPORT!!!!! MOST WINNING!! MOST BELOVED!!! MOST HATED!!! MOST EVERYTHING!! WE HOLD ALL THE RECORDS AND NO ONE IS AS GOOD!!! DC4L!!!!!
   
   Most games choked away by their quarterback? Yeah, that works too.
   
   
9. Detroit Lions (5-2) - Previously: #7 - Hey Lions fans, did you know that you're in the Suck for Luck sweepstakes? It's true, well, according to this bozo. E-mailer Jason J. sent me part of a conversation he had a couple of weeks ago with some clown on a football forum:
   
   
   
   
10. New York Jets (4-3) - Previously: #15 - I have no idea whom to rank No. 10. I refuse to put the choking Cowboys up here. I knocked the Chargers off after that ridiculous performance yesterday. No one else is worthy of being in the Top 10, though the Jets have Nick Mangold back and should play better going forward.
    
    Speaking of the Chargers, two quick thoughts on their AFC West rival Broncos.
    
    1. Cris Carter absolutely hates Tim Tebow. Like, he wants to ruin Tebow's life for some reason. Here's something he said during Sunday NFL Countdown:
    
    "Tim Tebow can't do in the pocket what Cal Orton can do in the pocket, hee hee hee honk honk."
    
    OK, just kidding about the Urkel noises, but seriously, what the hell? Orton is 6-21 in his previous 27 starts. His YPA this year is 6.3. His completion percentage is 58.7. And his name isn't freaking Cal!
    
    2. Speaking of Orton, I found it odd that he went out for the coin toss in overtime against the Dolphins. Orton called heads, but the coin landed on tails. Tebow eventually prevailed, but it's clear that Orton tried his best to sabotage Tebow's first start this year. If Orton wanted Tebow to win, he would have called tails. Tails never fails. Duh.
    
    

32. Miami Dolphins (0-6) - Previously: #32 - In the Dolphins-Broncos Live In-Game Thread on NFL.com, several posters were attacking the Miami fans by saying that their mascot is lame. One of the Fins fans defending his squad:



If that's the case, then it's quite apparent that GameCenter posters do not kill sharks.

31. St. Louis Rams (0-6) - Previously: #31 - I already discussed how epically bad the Rams and Dolphins are. Here's another indicator:

Points the St. Louis Rams have scored in their previous four games since Oct. 23: 27
Runs the St. Louis Cardinals have scored in their previous four games since Oct. 23: 20

The Rams are outscoring the Cardinals by only a touchdown! Seriously, how pathetic is that? Perhaps the Rams can sign Albert Pujols after this season to play tight end or something. He can't be worse than what the Rams currently have at the position.

30. Indianapolis Colts (0-7) - Previously: #30 - Beloved GameCenter poster and Colts fan Taton was spazzing out during his team's 62-7 loss to the Colts:



I guess Indianapolis should take itself out of the Suck for Luck sweepstakes, since getting Luck "isn't change anything good."

29. Arizona Cardinals (1-5) - Previously: #28 - It's official. CBS' fantasy football league manager is the worst major one out there. In addition to costing lots of money, it gives terrible advice. Facebook friend Michael M. shared this with me:



That's right - for the price of Larry Fitzgerald or Chris Johnson, you can be the proud new owner of Houston or Cincinnati's defense. Huzzah!

28. Seattle Seahawks (2-4) - Previously: #25 - For those of you who started Marshawn Lynch, direct your hate mail toward Pete Carroll. It was initially reported that Lynch injured his back during pre-game warmups and consequently didn't play. However, it was later revealed that Lynch was having issues with his back all week despite the fact that he was never listed on the injury report.

Carroll is a pathological liar and a complete douche bag. Avoid all Seattle fantasy players at all cost until Carroll is fired.

At any rate, a funny e-mail from Joey T:

I hope you're done saying Charlie S***hurst is the best QB on the Seahawks. That's all.

Charlie S***hurst? Tarvaris "Poop Salad" Jackson? No wonder the Seahawks are so crappy.

27. Cleveland Browns (3-3) - Previously: #26 - Cleveland's three victories this year have come against the Colts (0-7), Seahawks (2-4) and Dolphins (0-6). They lost their other games by a combined score of 82-47 - that was to the Bengals, Raiders and Titans.

Just a hunch that Cleveland's 3-3 record is a bit misleading.

26. Tennessee Titans (3-3) - Previously: #20 - The Titans really blow without Kenny Britt.

Anyway, here are more Notes from NFL.com GameCenter (the first from Facebook friend Jay B):

1. "uh oh, victoria's panties are starting to get bunched up, lookout!"

Slowly but surely, GameCenter is transforming into a sex forum. Check out my NFL Picks page to see how these clowns react to a hot girl being on there.

2. "Alex did start agest more teams in the halfway/higher Ranked strength based teams. What exactly happined to cause that easy 9 points for the Aints in like week 3? or w/e. With the safty and the easy field position it wasnt entirely his fault GRANTED"

I wasn't following this guy at all until he capitalized the word "granted" and ended his sentence abruptly. Now it all makes sense to me.

3. "two best teams in the furture for the west is a much more constentent rams team and a 49ers team which needs a primary lead QB we have a good secondary in alex smith, but he cant play as head QB ill keep him for secondary becouse hes GREAT at that spot but the 9ers primary needs agood head QB which it hasnt land yet."

Did this guy just say he wants the 49ers to use Alex Smith in their secondary? Perhaps his Idiot's Guide to Football didn't land in his mailbox yet.

25. Washington Redskins (3-3) - Previously: #22 - Poor Rex Grossman was so sick before the Panthers game that he couldn't stand on the sidelines. Luckily, there was a camera in the locker room that captured what Grossman was doing and saying.

"I SUCK SO MUCH BLEEHHHHH, I LOST MY STARTING JOB TO JOHN F***ING BECK BLEEEHHHH, I TOLD EVERYONE MY TEAM WAS GOING TO WIN THE NFC EAST BLEEEHHHHH, I'M THE WORST QUARTERBACK EVER BLEEHHHH, NOT EVEN MIKE SHANAHAN COULD FIX ME BLEEHHHHH."

Unfortunately for the janitor, Grossman missed the toilet each time he puked.

24. Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5) - Previously: #29 - Jacksonville hung tough with the Steelers and beat the Ravens. Blaine Gabbert hasn't shown anything yet, but the defense is awesome.

At any rate, the Jaguars may not have many fans, but the very few are extremely tough. Check out this post from GameCenter:

Funny story...I went to the Jags vs. Bears game a few years back...it was at Chicago. Some dude started talking smack, so I smacked the living crap out of him and his buddies just stood there and stared. Chicago is full of punks.

A Jags fan who goes to road games AND beats the living crap out of opposing fans? There's no way this team can move to L.A. now.

23. Minnesota Vikings (1-6) - Previously: #27 - I'm moving the Vikings up because they're going to win some games with Christian Ponder.

Anyway, if you haven't heard, The NFL Network's Michael Lombardi recently reported that Donovan McNabb's work ethic has been abysmal this year. Per Lombardi, McNabb showed up late to meetings and practices. There have also been other reports that McNabb refused to listen to coaches who wanted to fix his throwing motion; that he just doesn't want to put in the time to be successful.

I wanted to give McNabb a chance to defend himself, so I called him up for an interview.

Me: Hey Donovan, thanks for joining me.

Donovan McNabb: Hello, George.

Me: George? Who's George?

Donovan McNabb: You.

Me: I'm not George.

Donovan McNabb: This is not George from GeorgeFootball.com? Sorry, I didn't exactly read your e-mail.

Me: No, I'm Walt from WalterFootball.com.

Donovan McNabb: Oopsie-doopsie!

Me: Anyway, I wanted to get to Michael Lombardi's comments, but first I have to ask you, what went wrong this year? Most people thought you'd bounce back with Adrian Peterson.

Donovan McNabb: Who's that?

Me: Adrian Peterson... the best running back in football...

Donovan McNabb: He's on my team?

Me: Umm... yeah...

Donovan McNabb: Oopsie-doopsie! I didn't get around to reading the roster just yet. I've been too busy watching TV.

Me: You don't know who's on your team? Do you even know who your coaches are?

Donovan McNabb: Uhh... Andy Reid?

Me: Andy Reid? You're not on the Eagles anymore!

Donovan McNabb: Oopsie-doopsie! No wonder I'm wearing purple now.

Me: You know, I'm starting to think I don't even need to ask you about Lombardi's comments.

Donovan McNabb: Good, because I'm missing some quality TV right now, George.


2011 NFL Power Rankings: The Rest:
11. San Diego Chargers (4-2). Previously: #8
12. Dallas Cowboys (3-3). Previously: #11
13. Chicago Bears (4-3). Previously: #16
14. Houston Texans (4-3). Previously: #14
15. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4). Previously: #13
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3). Previously: #12
17. Atlanta Falcons (4-3). Previously: #17
18. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2). Previously: #18
19. Kansas City Chiefs (3-3). Previously: #23
20. Carolina Panthers (2-5). Previously: #21
21. Oakland Raiders (4-3). Previously: #19
22. Denver Broncos (2-4). Previously: #24

Leave a comment Name Comment Verification: click on image to refresh it   Algebra 11-06-2013 05:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.221 (total posts: 2) 5     2 Packers - Aaron Rodgers = no playoffs Miami 11-06-2013 02:19 pm xxx.xxx.xxx6.24 (total posts: 1) 4     3 We beat a "top 10 team" and get moved down? That's cool... Really... 11-05-2013 10:56 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.188 (total posts: 1) 3     8 "Perhaps they're just bored because they're so much better than the competition." .....Seriously? That is the stupidest "analysis" I've ever read. Willam 11-05-2013 10:55 pm xxx.xxx.xxx51.5 (total posts: 40) 9     5 Walt likes to think that his power rankings are better than nfl.com's saying that they go strictly by record (which is technically false anyway since this week the Chiefs were ranked no. 2), the problem is his power rankings are influenced by brand name. Give me another explanation on how 3-5 Oakland can be ranked behind 2-6 Pittsburgh 2 weeks after Oakland beat Pittsburgh, how St. Louis who almost beat the Seahawks are ranked behind Atlanta, Pittsburgh, and the New York Giants, how the Jets are #17 despite wins over New England and New Orleans, how Green Bay can be #6 despite all their injuries including Rodgers, How Baltimore is 7 spots ahead of Cleveland despite Cleveland beating Baltimore last week. He has had a tendency to give teams that had been great in recent years generous rankings and vice versa, then excuses it with the "Oh this is not about record thing". Mario Migelini 11-05-2013 09:09 pm xxx.xxx.xxx51.5 (total posts: 40) 7     3 Wrong Wallorfootballs, the Seehawk nomber wun team in leeg.Ruskell Wilkins beest QB, Marshal linch beest runnyguy, Taptua beest defenceman. Seehawk beet suck 49s in supergame Joe Biden 11-05-2013 09:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx51.5 (total posts: 40) 6     2 The Panthers should not be no. 9. No team with Jake Delhome as their starting QB should be in the top 10 Steve 11-05-2013 06:58 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.205 (total posts: 2) 10     5 If the idea is that it's who you would pick on a neutral field (lots of those games in the NFL), then why do you have Packers 7 spots ahead of the Bears when the Bears beat them on the road and they have the same record in the same division? Tell the truth you will put out a power ranking the week after the superbowl to list the teams you think were the best over the previous year and their record and playoff performance won't matter. It will again be what Walter thinks would happen on a neutral field. I applaud you sir, people seem to care what you think. Brandon 11-05-2013 06:10 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.138 (total posts: 1) 5     3 Really? Ravens at 15? You gotta be kidding me. Browns at 22? Shouldn't those two be about switched? Chiefs... 11-05-2013 06:06 pm xxx.xxx.xxx9.87 (total posts: 1) 13     5 Full disclosure: I'm a Chiefs fan. But I'm not here to gripe about our low ranking--I honestly don't really care if you think the Chiefs are the 8th best, or the best, or the worst team in the league. Opinions don't matter; results do. And I'm just enjoying this awesome season! I'm more concerned about the consistency of your logic. If you say you think 7-12 teams are better than the Chiefs and would beat them on a neutral field, why doesn't your mock draft reflect that? You have the Chiefs winning the SB in your mock, which means you either think they're better than the teams they will face in the playoffs and SB (which is played on a neutral field) or you think they'll get lucky. As you're a betting man, I doubt you would base a midseason projection on the premise that a team will just get lucky. The knock against the Chiefs is that the offense is mediocre and Alex Smith can't perform at a high enough level to win against better quarterbacks. I would argue that point to a degree and say that we haven't seen the best of Smith and this offense and that they will perform at a high enough level when they are required to do so. But I won't disagree that Smith is limited--he is. I won't disagree that the O-Line has not been great and needs to play better. I won't disagree that we need better talent at WR. But the defense might end up being one of the best ever--and even in the modern era, don't underestimate the ability of a great defense to shut down a great offense. As a team, they may be good enough to overcome their deficiencies. Ultimately, it's not the best offense or the best QB that matters...it's the best team--offense, defense, coach, management, culture. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts. This is a team that is strong together--the players have left behind their egos, they speak of themselves as a family. That's a team that can overcome better talent. But rank them where you will...I'm loving this season either way. Just be consistent with your logic. Fraudulent Panthers Fan 11-05-2013 04:12 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.218 (total posts: 4) 11     34 Hi Walt, Panthers fan here... (*gag*) Thanks for putting my team into the top 10! As I've been saying for the past 5 weeks ever since we beat the Giants, Vikings, Rams, Falcons, and Bucs all in a row... we deserve to be counted among the best! BTW Those losses to Buffalo, and Arizona... they were just flukes, I promise! Confused Saints Fan 11-05-2013 03:57 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.218 (total posts: 4) 5     3 Saints fan here.... why did you drop the Jets down? After seeing that defensive line manhandle a pretty decent offensive line, there is no doubt in my mind that they are one of the best defenses in football. And although the Saints are notorious for giving up big rushes, Chris Ivory has the Jets ground game looking formidable. The Jets are DEFINITELY going to contend for a playoff spot, considering how weak the rest of the AFC is. A. Reid > C. Kelly 11-05-2013 03:02 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.147 (total posts: 1) 5     3 It's funny how last year before the season you had the chiefs as one of the most talented rosters in the NFL outside of the QB position. Now that they have Reid(whom you hate) and are playing like the talented team they are you just want to hate. You could just put the chiefs defense in the probowl. They win ugly, but that defense has elite talent. 9-0 is no fluke. In the NFL parity rains supreme, and good teams can struggle with bad ones. Especially when those teams want to knock you off and play you like it is their SB. Like the site, its entertaining but you lack some serious objectivity. Percy's 12th Migraine 11-05-2013 02:36 pm xxx.xxx.xxx.140 (total posts: 2) 7     5 I can't believe that Walter is giving the most accurate power rankings. Realistically, though: How long can you keep the seaHacks so high when they are getting nearly beat by bottom dwellers and their QB is taking more regular poundings than a strawberry in the Joint? The combination of their crappy O line and predictable play calling is sure to get Wilson Cutlerized. Bill Nye 11-05-2013 02:18 pm xxx.xxx.xxx5.61 (total posts: 1) 15     4 How do the Jets go down after beating the Saints? Packers 11-05-2013 01:52 pm xxx.xxx.xxx51.5 (total posts: 40) 2     1 They already had a bunch of injuries, now discount double check is injured, they should be lower Pages: 1 2 ...5 6 7 89 10 11 ...137 138