2008 NFL Power Rankings: Week 21
Week 20 Fantasy Performers, Defenses, League Leaders

1. Pittsburgh Steelers (14-4) – Previously: #1 – I really hate Troy Polamalu. To quote the great (and formerly hot) Mrs. White, “I hate him… so… much, It – it… the f-, it- flame… flames… flames on the side of my face, breathing, breath… heaving, breaths… heaving….”
   
   Why do I hate Polamalu? He put the game on my Bad Beat list because he ruined a Baltimore cover with a pick-six. If I see Polamalu on the street, I’m going to… umm… ask for an autograph, I guess?
   
   
2. Arizona Cardinals (11-7) – Previously: #4 – The Cardinals have won more playoff games the past three weeks than in the 88 years prior to this postseason.
   
   Well, the good news for Eagle fans is that Andy Reid’s fake beard will finally be taken off. I swear Reid killed some small animal, shaved it and glued its hair to his face.
   
   

3. Baltimore Ravens (13-5) – Previously: #2 – The Ravens may have lost the war, but at least they won the battle! After failing to knock out Hines Ward in two games, they were finally successful in matchup No. 3. I don’t know which player collected on his bounty, but at least there’s one guy on Baltimore’s roster who isn’t totally depressed right now.

4. Philadelphia Eagles (11-6-1) – Previously: #3 – Everyone had the Eagles. Well, a few people took the Cardinals, but almost everyone out there sided with the favorite, including ESPN columnist Gene Wojciechowski, who wrote, “But the Arizona Cardinals over the Philadelphia Eagles in next Sunday’s NFC Championship Game? Put it this way: Tim Tebow and the Philippians have a better chance of strip clubbing with Pacman Jones.”

One “expert” had Arizona. When Terry Bradshaw was the only FOX panelist to pick the Cardinals over the Eagles, I realized that I went a whole year without interviewing him! So, I called up the FOX “analyst” and we were able to get a dialogue going. Here’s my exclusive interview with the Blond Bomber:

ME: Hey Terry Bradshaw, thanks for joining me. I know you’re busy rading your own liquor cabinet right now, so I really appreciate it.

BRADSHAW: “No problem, Joe! Let’s do this interview right now!”

ME: Uhh… it’s Walt. Anyway, good call on the Cardinals. I had them myself. Who ya got in the Super Bowl?

BRADSHAW: “Only I know who Terry is going to pick. I will tell you who Terry is gonna pick… hic… Terry is picking the Philadelphia Eagles and Dononnan McNabb to win the Super Bowl.”

ME: The Eagles? They’re not even in the Super Bowl! They lost to the team you just picked on your pre-game show!

BRADSHAW: “Hic… Terry does not understand what you are saying, Derrick. I will tell you what, I feel good about my Super Bowl pick.”

ME: Well that makes one of us.

BRADSHAW: “This is gettin’ borin’, so Terry will tell you a joke. A horse walked into the bar one night. What did the horse do? Hic… I will tell you what the horse did. The horse looked at the bartender and asked, ‘Can I have a shot of Jack Daniels for my friend Terry over here? He’s a good fella.’ So the bartender poured him a drink. Hic… And I drank it quick!”

ME: OK? Then what happened?

BRADSHAW: “Who?”

ME: You said you were telling me a joke. That was not a joke. It started as a joke, but I think you got it confused with one of your drunken memories.

BRADSHAW: “You want a joke? I will tell you a joke. Knock knock. Who’s this? Who done knocked on my door? Hic… I better hope it’s not a door-to-door salesman again. Hic… That is why the chicken crossed to the other side. Wait… hic… that is not right…”

ME: I think you messed that one up, Terry.

BRADSHAW: “Are you callin me drunk? I am not drunk… hic… I can count the alphabet backward… 65… 64… 52… Hic… Who’s knockin on my door?”

ME: Yeah, I think we’re going to have to flag you, Terry.







Run Defenses:
Yards per carry (YPC) allowed to running backs is the best way to determine a defense’s strength against the run, as opposed to rushing yards per game.

1. Steelers (3.3)
2. Ravens (3.3)
3. Vikings (3.4)
4. Titans (3.5)
5. Giants (3.6)
6. Jets (3.6)
7. Eagles (3.7)
8. Bears (3.7)
9. Bengals (3.8)
10. 49ers (3.8)
11. Cardinals (3.9)
12. Patriots (4.0)
13. Jaguars (4.0)
14. Chargers (4.1)
15. Seahawks (4.1)
16. Saints (4.1)
17. Dolphins (4.1)
18. Redskins (4.1)
19. Bills (4.1)
20. Colts (4.3)
21. Cowboys (4.4)
22. Buccaneers (4.5)
23. Texans (4.5)
24. Raiders (4.5)
25. Packers (4.5)
26. Panthers (4.6)
27. Browns (4.7)
28. Falcons (4.8)
29. Broncos (5.1)
30. Chiefs (5.2)
31. Rams (5.2)
32. Lions (5.4)

Pass Defenses:
Yards Per Attempt (YPA) is the best tool to measure a defense’s effectiveness versus the pass:

1. Steelers (5.5)
2. Titans (6.0)
3. Ravens (6.1)
4. Eagles (6.1)
5. Redskins (6.3)
6. Bears (6.5)
7. Panthers (6.5)
8. Colts (6.5)
9. Packers (6.6)
10. Cowboys (6.7)
11. Buccaneers (6.7)
12. Bengals (6.7)
13. 49ers (6.7)
14. Giants (6.7)
15. Chargers (6.8)
16. Bills (7.0)
17. Jets (7.0)
18. Dolphins (7.0)
19. Cardinals (7.1)
20. Saints (7.1)
21. Falcons (7.1)
22. Vikings (7.2)
23. Raiders (7.3)
24. Patriots (7.3)
25. Chiefs (7.3)
26. Browns (7.4)
27. Texans (7.6)
28. Seahawks (7.7)
29. Broncos (7.7)
30. Rams (8.2)
31. Jaguars (8.3)
32. Lions (8.8)

2008 NFL Playoff League Leaders: Passing Yards

Donovan McNabb: 892 yards. 5 TDs, 4 INTs.

Kurt Warner: 770 yards. 8 TDs, 2 INTs.

Philip Rivers: 525 yards. 3 TDs, 2 INTs.

Joe Flacco: 437 yards. 1 TD, 3 INTs.

Ben Roethlisberger: 436 yards. 2 TDs, 0 INTs.


2008 NFL Playoff League Leaders: Rushing Yards

Edgerrin James: 203 yards. 1 TD.

Willie Parker: 193 yards. 2 TDs.

Willis McGahee: 154 yards. 2 TDs.

Tim Hightower: 132 yards. 1 TD.

Darren Sproles: 120 yards. 2 TDs.


2008 NFL Playoff League Leaders: Receiving Yards

Larry Fitzgerald: 419 yards. 5 TDs.

Kevin Curtis: 211 yards. 0 TDs.

DeSean Jackson: 207 yards. 1 TD.

Derrick Mason: 190 yards. 1 TD.

Brent Celek: 151 yards. 3 TDs.


2008 NFL Playoff League Leaders: Sacks

Terrell Suggs: 4 sacks.

LaMarr Woodley: 4 sacks.

Six players tied with 2 sacks.


2008 NFL Playoff League Leaders: Interceptions

Ed Reed: 2 INTs. 1 TD.

Asante Samuel: 2 INTs, 1 TD.

Ralph Brown: 2 INTs, 0 TDs.

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie: 2 INTs, 0 TDs.



2009 NFL Mock Draft

Super Bowl XLIII NFL Pick

Matt McGuire’s 2009 NFL Mock Draft

2009 NFL Mock Draft Database

2022 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Post-Free Agency Power Rankings | Post-NFL Draft Power Rankings | Post-Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17

2021 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings | Preseason Power Rankings | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | Playoffs |

2020 NFL Power Rankings. Week: Post-Super Bowl Power Rankings 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | Playoffs |