The less attention the Cowboys get, the better. I rather like how quiet of a season they're having. Other than Roy Williams mouthing off, they've been flying under the radar and playing well.

I'm glad that the Cowboys and Eagles didn't move much. It was a tightly matched game that the officiating influenced greatly. They're both pretty close in strength. I think the Giants should consider their free fall though.

I love this comment about the Titans:

23 (26) Titans 2-6-0 With VY at QB, receivers have turned reliable, CJ has gone crazy and the defense has improved greatly. (Kuharsky)

What has Vince Young done to help the defense? Unless those are two separate thoughts or the writer is assuming less pressure on the defense since the offense is more able to score?

aba: The less attention the Cowboys get, the better. I rather like how quiet of a season they're having. Other than Roy Williams mouthing off, they've been flying under the radar and playing well.

I don't think Roy was "mouthing off." He admitted they had a problem, and that they'd work on it... and they did. TA DAAAA

Anyway, I agree with the rest of what you said. We didn't move & we're ranked at the bottom of the 6-2 teams, which is fine. Keep underestimating us. I'm down with it.

Come from behind wins are nice and all, but at some point, someone is going to make the Saints pay for falling behind early. I read a few years ago that in the NFL, 75% of games are won by the team that has the lead at the end of the first quarter. Pretty eye-opening stat.

Nice to see that the Dolphins got a little love, though I'm not sure how they deserve to move up three spots this week after two straight losses. Granted, they were both to two really good or great (for the Saints) teams but still, I'd have a hard time justifying the jump.

I guess this is a good time to post this:



Nobody really did anything special, except the Chargers who rebounded by 4 spots.

I like the Browns methodical and consistent dive to last.

I'm still amazed that the Raiders have two wins. And that there are teams below them on this list.

Top-to-bottom rankings (0-100 scale)
1-4: Colts 84.7, Saints 84.6, Patriots 77.3, Broncos 73.3
5-8: Bengals 72.0, Steelers 69.5, Cowboys 67.2, Vikings 65.0
9-12: Falcons 62.1, Cardinals 61.4, Jets 60.8, Ravens 60.1
13-16: Eagles 59.1, Giants 58.1, Texans 52.7, Dolphins 52.0
17-20: Chargers 50.5, Packers 49.1, Bears 44.6, 49ers 42.8
21-24: Panthers 42.4, Seahawks 42.2, Jaguars 33.7, Bills 33.0
25-28: Titans 28.3, Redskins 25.7, Raiders 19.8, Buccaneers 16.9
29-32: Lions 16.6, Chiefs 15.0, Browns 13.3, Rams 10.2

Largest leaps: Cardinals +5, Buccaneers +3
Furthest falls: Ravens -5, Packers -4

These subratings are on a 0-30 scale:
Best offenses: Saints 30.0, Patriots 21.5, Cowboys 21.1
Worst offenses: Raiders 0.9, Browns 1.5, Rams 2.9, Redskins 3.3

Best defenses: Broncos 28.7, Jets 28.6, Colts 27.2, Patriots 26.9
Worst defenses: Titans 3.3, Lions 3.5, Buccaneers 3.6, Rams 3.8

Last week's rankings

Saints fall from #1 for the first time all season due to their average defense, though the gap in their rankings is the closest on the chart. In terms of raw score, Pittsburgh went up the most, but only passed two teams.

Di Atribe: I guess this is a good time to post this:

[Link][i27.photobucket.com image 640x620]

Nobody really did anything special, except the Chargers who rebounded by 4 spots.

What really stands out in that graph is the Giants and the Jets.

aba: What really stands out in that graph is the Giants and the Jets.

I agree. I love the Jets line because it makes such a beautiful parabola. I love the Giants line because of the beautiful nose-dive. Sigh. Makes me smile.

Nabb1: Come from behind wins are nice and all, but at some point, someone is going to make the Saints pay for falling behind early.

If their history is any indication, I'm guessing that will happen in their first playoff game.

Cyberluddite: Nabb1: Come from behind wins are nice and all, but at some point, someone is going to make the Saints pay for falling behind early.

If their history is any indication, I'm guessing that will happen in their first playoff game.

They've shaken that bug. It's getting over that second playoff game that has eluded them.

I was gonna complain that they dropped the Patriots down from last week after a pretty good win against a division opponent on Sunday. But the way the Steelers beat the crap out of the Broncos last night and the Bengals dominated the Ravens, I think both of them deserve a healthy jump.

Nabb1: Cyberluddite: Nabb1: Come from behind wins are nice and all, but at some point, someone is going to make the Saints pay for falling behind early.

If their history is any indication, I'm guessing that will happen in their first playoff game.

They've shaken that bug. It's getting over that second playoff game that has eluded them.

C'mon, they've only gotten that far once, hehe. Like Kevin Garnett, anything is possible.

/Breesus doesn't need to be on a motherfarking boat, for obvious reasons

Man the Giants are falling apart. Though they do still have time to pull it together...

Eh, I'm okay with the Cowboy's position this week. Can't really complain about the Broncos being ahead even after losing last night since they beat us head-to-head.

Dallas belongs above Denver. Unfortunately for Romo, the league continues to schedule games in December.

Lou Cypher: Dallas belongs above Denver. Unfortunately for Romo, the league continues to schedule games in December.

The Cowboys lost to Denver. I'm a huge Cows fan, but they have the same record and lost the head-to-head. You just can't put them above the Broncos.

Treygreen13: Lou Cypher: Dallas belongs above Denver. Unfortunately for Romo, the league continues to schedule games in December.

The Cowboys lost to Denver. I'm a huge Cows fan, but they have the same record and lost the head-to-head. You just can't put them above the Broncos.

Fair. But I think Dallas has been improving while Denver has been exposed in the past two weeks.

I was hoping for another article about Roger Goodell's suit jacket, instead of the Power Rankings.

Bill Frist: Man the Giants are falling apart. Though they do still have time to pull it together...

They're not falling apart. They look just like I thought they looked in week 1. They can still get through the season at 11-5 with some effort. Certainly 9-6 is well within reach, though if they just give up (which would be uncharacteristic, even for Manning) they could be looking at 8-8 or worse.

Been saving this since Monday....

Lou Cypher: Treygreen13: Lou Cypher: Dallas belongs above Denver. Unfortunately for Romo, the league continues to schedule games in December.

The Cowboys lost to Denver. I'm a huge Cows fan, but they have the same record and lost the head-to-head. You just can't put them above the Broncos.

Fair. But I think Dallas has been improving while Denver has been exposed in the past two weeks.

I think the Falcons/Eagles game in week 13 will be a great indicator of the fate of both of those teams as well.

I'll agree with you on the Denver's drop-off element. They sure have looked less-than-inspiring recently, but I give them lots of credit for having a tough schedule.

Di Atribe: I guess this is a good time to post this:



Nobody really did anything special, except the Chargers who rebounded by 4 spots.

That looks suspiciously like something I would hang on my refrigerator. And my daughter's not even two yet.

Al!: Bill Frist: Man the Giants are falling apart. Though they do still have time to pull it together...

They're not falling apart. They look just like I thought they looked in week 1. They can still get through the season at 11-5 with some effort. Certainly 9-6 is well within reach, though if they just give up (which would be uncharacteristic, even for Manning) they could be looking at 8-8 or worse.

Their upcoming schedule is brutal.
Atlanta
Denver
Dallas
Philadelphia
Washington
Carolina
Minnesota

Sure, they get a break when it comes to Washington/Carolina, but that is a rough stretch.

There are five 1-7 teams. Sweet baby Jebus.

Minarets: What has Vince Young done to help the defense? Unless those are two separate thoughts or the writer is assuming less pressure on the defense since the offense is more able to score?

If I'm not mistaken, some key players on the defense came off of injury recently. It's nice how that is completely ignored and all the focus is based off of VY starting.

capnmonkey: Been saving this since Monday....

Awww..a Bengals fan. How cute.

Preview of Sunday:



Here we go, Steelers! Here we go!

robsul82: Nabb1: Cyberluddite: Nabb1: Come from behind wins are nice and all, but at some point, someone is going to make the Saints pay for falling behind early.

If their history is any indication, I'm guessing that will happen in their first playoff game.

They've shaken that bug. It's getting over that second playoff game that has eluded them.

C'mon, they've only gotten that far once, hehe. Like Kevin Garnett, anything is possible.

/Breesus doesn't need to be on a motherfarking boat, for obvious reasons

"That far" meaning the NFC Championship, I think they got to two playoff games in Haslett's first year too.

Al!: They're not falling apart. They look just like I thought they looked in week 1.

Nah, they are playing much worse. Eli's QB rating has fallen fast and their defense is doing much worse... or at least their weaknesses are being exploited way more.

Oh and man.....am I looking forward to the Fark thread Lulz on the MNF game involving Cleveland.

Treygreen13: Sure, they get a break when it comes to Washington/Carolina, but that is a rough stretch.

Yeah it is pretty brutal. They really could have used a win with the Chargers.

The_Six_Fingered_Man: That looks suspiciously like something I would hang on my refrigerator. And my daughter's not even two yet.

It's not supposed to be pretty, dammit!

InferiousX: Oh and man.....am I looking forward to the Fark thread Lulz on the MNF game involving Cleveland.

There's gonna be a thread for that game? Ewww.

Miami had every chance to beat Indy, NO, and NE. Pitiful.

Di Atribe: The_Six_Fingered_Man: That looks suspiciously like something I would hang on my refrigerator. And my daughter's not even two yet.

It's not supposed to be pretty, dammit!

I'm just saying that giving my two year old a box crayons and 15 minutes could have come up with a fair approximation of that chart. Not knocking the work that you put into it, just laughing at the ups and down of the NFL Power Rankings.

The_Six_Fingered_Man: I'm just saying that giving my two year old a box crayons and 15 minutes could have come up with a fair approximation of that chart. Not knocking the work that you put into it, just laughing at the ups and down of the NFL Power Rankings.

THAT is precisely my point in making that chart every week. It's so chaotic... just don't stare at the chart for too long. You'll go cross-eyed.

robsul82: "That far" meaning the NFC Championship, I think they got to two playoff games in Haslett's first year too.

Yes, I meant getting over that "first playoff game" hump. They lost to the Vikings on the road in the second round after beating the Rams (the second loudest I have ever heard the Dome).

This whole fantasy football thing seriously screws with your perceptions. On one hand, I really don't want to see any team with Hines Ward winning -- but on the other hand, the Steelers Defense resulted in a W for me this week.

/Polamalu rocks.
//Most impressive play was watching him accelerate to tackle a receiver on a slant play
///Really wish I never saw him in the Head'n'shoulders commercial though -- that voice (cringe)

I'm as rabid a Cowboys fan as Di though the quieter type, and I don't see anything really unfair about the ranking. I think it was Trey in the Sunday football thread that said something to the effect of "enjoy it while you can, since they'll probably have the usual inexplicable loss to the Redskins coming up." (obviously paraphrased)... which would be sadly typical of the 'Boys.

But for now? You bet I'm enjoying the hell out of it. I'll take the ranking too.

//go Cowboys!

robsul82: InferiousX: Oh and man.....am I looking forward to the Fark thread Lulz on the MNF game involving Cleveland.

There's gonna be a thread for that game? Ewww.

There had better be. The mockery in that thread is going to be the only thing that makes that game watchable.

Minarets: What has Vince Young done to help the defense? Unless those are two separate thoughts or the writer is assuming less pressure on the defense since the offense is more able to score?

I haven't watched any Titans games this year so I have no idea if this has happened, but one obvious way that a QB change could improve the defense is if he cuts down on turnovers and 3 and outs, so that the defense has time to rest between drives.

raptusregaliter: I'm as rabid a Cowboys fan as Di though the quieter type, and I don't see anything really unfair about the ranking. I think it was Trey in the Sunday football thread that said something to the effect of "enjoy it while you can, since they'll probably have the usual inexplicable loss to the Redskins coming up." (obviously paraphrased)... which would be sadly typical of the 'Boys.

But for now? You bet I'm enjoying the hell out of it. I'll take the ranking too.

//go Cowboys!

I was inspired by the guy who told me at the beginning of the season that since he was an assistant to an assistant to somebody's assistant coach that the Cowboys would be "lucky" to be 7-9 this season, and wrote that the Cowboys couldn't beat the Eagles or Falcons "even if they let them play 12 on 11".

I mean, they could still be 7-9 this season, but it is looking to be increasingly unlikely now.

Treygreen13: Al!: Bill Frist: Man the Giants are falling apart. Though they do still have time to pull it together...

They're not falling apart. They look just like I thought they looked in week 1. They can still get through the season at 11-5 with some effort. Certainly 9-6 is well within reach, though if they just give up (which would be uncharacteristic, even for Manning) they could be looking at 8-8 or worse.

Their upcoming schedule is brutal.
Atlanta
Denver
Dallas
Philadelphia
Washington
Carolina
Minnesota

Sure, they get a break when it comes to Washington/Carolina, but that is a rough stretch.

I don't think Carolina is a gimme either. If they had had Todd Collins at QB instead of Jake Delhomme I think they would have beat the Saints. I think Jersey/A goes 3-4 through that stretch.

Huge game next week for the Steelers.

They better show me that game in my area. I don't give a damn about the Cardinals or whatever west coast fail squad they try to play in California.

Since my Vikings did not play this week. I just want to thank Di Atribe for the nice graph every week.

/Go all Viking players not named Farve.
//All the way to the Super Bowl.
///All Day

Two_Noodles: Treygreen13: Al!: Bill Frist: Man the Giants are falling apart. Though they do still have time to pull it together...

They're not falling apart. They look just like I thought they looked in week 1. They can still get through the season at 11-5 with some effort. Certainly 9-6 is well within reach, though if they just give up (which would be uncharacteristic, even for Manning) they could be looking at 8-8 or worse.

Their upcoming schedule is brutal.
Atlanta
Denver
Dallas
Philadelphia
Washington
Carolina
Minnesota

Sure, they get a break when it comes to Washington/Carolina, but that is a rough stretch.

I don't think Carolina is a gimme either. If they had had Todd Collins at QB instead of Jake Delhomme I think they would have beat the Saints. I think Jersey/A goes 3-4 through that stretch.

I'd give them 4-3 or 5-2, but even then it puts them 9-7 or 10-6, which might not be good enough for a playoff spot considering how tight the top of the NFC is looking right now. It looks like the East and South alone will be offering up 5 teams that look to be playoff ready.

Atlanta needs to win against the Eagles or Giants to hope to cling to that wild-card spot, because it doesn't look like they will catch the Saints this season. It may very likely be (disclaimer, this is just an early season assumption that will likely be wrong) that the Giants/Falcons game and the Eagles/Falcons games will be critical in the wildcard race.

I don't include the Cowboys in that balance because they already played the Falcons, and thus it can't be a critical upcoming game. The NFC East will have its own battle for the division which will most likely come down to the wire.

Al!: Bill Frist: Man the Giants are falling apart. Though they do still have time to pull it together...

They're not falling apart. They look just like I thought they looked in week 1. They can still get through the season at 11-5 with some effort. Certainly 9-6 is well within reach, though if they just give up (which would be uncharacteristic, even for Manning) they could be looking at 8-8 or worse.

I can gaurantee you they will not finish 9-6.

Doogles4221: Since my Vikings did not play this week. I just want to thank Di Atribe for the nice graph every week.

/Go all Viking players not named Farve.
//All the way to the Super Bowl.
///All Day

Awww... you are very welcome.

And I super-heart Adrian Peterson. I will always wish him well (unless he plays the Cowboys).