The Lions ranked higher than the Bears? Sheeut. Even with Cutler out, I'd pick the Bears over them any day.

Drop the Saints after what they did to the Giants last night? That's a "Harrumph" for you.

Lando Lincoln: The Lions ranked higher than the Bears? Sheeut. Even with Cutler out, I'd pick the Bears over them any day.

They played twice, split, and both games were lopsided. And now the Bears have no QB. How could you possible rank them higher?

Nabb1: Drop the Saints after what they did to the Giants last night? That's a "Harrumph" for you.

Gotta leave some room for some token AFC representation at the top of the rankings, I suppose. Though I'm not sure that token representation should be in the form of a team that has already lost to such legedary gridiron powerhouses as the Jaguars and the Seahawks.

FTFA: The countdown is on for Norv Turner, who surely can't survive the nosedive the Chargers are enduring. (Kuharsky)



"Looks like I picked the wrong season to quit sniffing glue."

Nabb1: Drop the Saints after what they did to the Giants last night? That's a "Harrumph" for you.

The Saints are starting to look very impressive. They need to shore up that defense just a bit, but once they do that they may be the one team that derails the Green Bay Express.

And if they didn't, subby, everyone would be in here biatching BUT BUT BUT THE RAVENS BEAT THE 49ERS HOW COULD YOU PUT THEM BELOW.

It would be hard to see amidst the "THEY DIDN'T EVEN PLAY THIS WEEKEND AND THEY DROPPED IN RANK WTFNFLBBQ".

bigpeeler: Nabb1: Drop the Saints after what they did to the Giants last night? That's a "Harrumph" for you.

The Saints are starting to look very impressive. They need to shore up that defense just a bit, but once they do that they may be the one team that derails the Green Bay Express.

Last night's whipping would have been a lot worse if not for a total BS call on Will Smith for roughing the passer that kept one of the Giants' TD drives alive, along with another personal foul call for pulling one of the Giants' pigtails or something. Tracey Porter's tackle out of bounds was definitely unnecessary roughness, but the other two personal foul calls against the Saints were complete garbage.

America is fired up to see the Jaguars host the Chargers on Monday Night Football. (Kuharsky)

Hahahahahhahahaa. Dick.

The 8-3 Harbaugh also beat the 9-2 Harbaugh, so that's OK with me.

SoCalSurfer: My only hope for this season is that the broncos and raiders will be neck and neck for the afc west title come week 17 and the chargers will somehow (hopefully after the firing of norv turner) knock off the raiders in week 17 in oakland thus SENDING TIM TEBOW TO THE PLAYOFFS AND TROLLING THE ENTIRE LEAGUE!!

oh that would be so epic

I don't think a 9-7 Broncos will be good enough to make the playoffs considering that both WCs will be 10 or 11 win teams.

SoCalSurfer: GAT_00: The 8-3 Harbaugh also beat the 9-2 Harbaugh, so that's OK with me.

SoCalSurfer: My only hope for this season is that the broncos and raiders will be neck and neck for the afc west title come week 17 and the chargers will somehow (hopefully after the firing of norv turner) knock off the raiders in week 17 in oakland thus SENDING TIM TEBOW TO THE PLAYOFFS AND TROLLING THE ENTIRE LEAGUE!!

oh that would be so epic

I don't think a 9-7 Broncos will be good enough to make the playoffs considering that both WCs will be 10 or 11 win teams.

Oakland has Miami, Kansas City and San Diego. They'll get to 10 wins.

GAT_00: The 8-3 Harbaugh also beat the 9-2 Harbaugh, so that's OK with me.

Yeah, but if head-to-head competition were the only criterion, the Ravens should be ranked behind the Titans, Jags, and Seahawks (the 3 teams they've lost to, with a combined record of 13-21). At least the Niners' only two losses have come against quality opponents (the Cowboys and Ravens, with a combined record of 15-7), as have some of their victories.

SoCalSurfer: denver has jesus, and a great d

But as soon as other teams' defenses finally decide to adjust to Jesus' weaknesses and exploit them, he'll be toast. I mean, hell, he doesn't even use the proper gear--the plays in sandals, fer Chrissake, and doesn't wear a helmet or pads--that's gotta be an easy weakness to exploit:

Cyberluddite: SoCalSurfer: denver has jesus, and a great d

But as soon as other teams' defenses finally decide to adjust to Jesus' weaknesses and exploit them, he'll be toast. I mean, hell, he doesn't even use the proper gear--the plays in sandals, fer Chrissake, and doesn't wear a helmet or pads--that's gotta be an easy weakness to exploit:

[www.catholicshopper.com image 322x397]

Yeah, that's just what the waterboy said right before he got stepped on.

Cyberluddite: GAT_00: The 8-3 Harbaugh also beat the 9-2 Harbaugh, so that's OK with me.

Yeah, but if head-to-head competition were the only criterion, the Ravens should be ranked behind the Titans, Jags, and Seahawks (the 3 teams they've lost to, with a combined record of 13-21). At least the Niners' only two losses have come against quality opponents (the Cowboys and Ravens, with a combined record of 15-7), as have some of their victories.

And the Ravens beat the 49ers last week. The Ravens are properly rated higher.

Nabb1: bigpeeler: Nabb1: Drop the Saints after what they did to the Giants last night? That's a "Harrumph" for you.

The Saints are starting to look very impressive. They need to shore up that defense just a bit, but once they do that they may be the one team that derails the Green Bay Express.

Last night's whipping would have been a lot worse if not for a total BS call on Will Smith for roughing the passer that kept one of the Giants' TD drives alive, along with another personal foul call for pulling one of the Giants' pigtails or something. Tracey Porter's tackle out of bounds was definitely unnecessary roughness, but the other two personal foul calls against the Saints were complete garbage.

Ugh! Even with the win, I'm still pissed off about that call. Really makes me want to hate watching football.

He hit him in the shoulder. Come on.

And yes, I'd be pissed if it was called on New York hitting Brees like that.

mjoven1975: The 49ers are too high at #3.

They're certainly not better than the Saints by any means.

The Saints DROP a spot after that game, hahaha. Drew's red T-shirt was right, man.

I mean, fark, how can any Jake induction I could ever hope to write about Tyler Palko's performance compete with hilarity like that? Anything I do will pale in comparison.

GAT_00: And the Ravens beat the 49ers last week. The Ravens are properly rated higher.

And the Dolphins beat the Bills two weeks ago, so why are the Bills rated higher? Why aren't the Broncos rated higher than the Raiders? Why aren't the Rams rated higher than the Browns? Why aren't the Eagles and Jets rated higher than the Cowboys?

Because you don't base the rankings solely on the outcome of one head-to-head game, that's why--you base it on the season as a whole. Listen, I can be convinced that the Ravens deserve to be rated higher than the Niners, but not if the only reason one can come up with is "the Ravens won when they played." Head-to-head outcomes are obviously determinative during the playoffs because the loser goes home, but not here. If that's the sole thing the rankings are based on, you're going to come up with some really odd results. If, for example, something weird happens and the Giants beat the Packers next week, I can guarantee you the Giants will not be ranked ahead of the Packers, and the Packers will still be ranked #1.

Cyberluddite: two weeks ago

That's why. We're talking about this week.

downstairs: mjoven1975: The 49ers are too high at #3.

They're certainly not better than the Saints by any means.

Yeah they are. The 49ers have a defense.

Wow, I totally spaced on crunching the numbers for the tiebreaker spreadsheet last night when I got home from poker. What a shiat-tastic performance put on by the giants last night. Di, you'll get your numbers around 5pm ET, if you can wait that long.

downstairs: mjoven1975: The 49ers are too high at #3.
They're certainly not better than the Saints by any means.

I can't argue with that. While I'm not so sure about whether the Niners should be ranked behind the Ravens, both the Ravens and the Niners should probably be ranked behind the Saints, especially considering the way the Saints are playing right now.

The Saints probably deserved to beat the Packers in Week 1. If they had, it would've been interesting to see how much differently those two teams seasons would've come out. I don't think the Packers' season would've been that much different--considering their schedule, they would probably 10-1 or at least 9-2 right now, but I'll bet the Saints wouldn't have laid an egg like they did in at least one of their other losses (especially against the Bucs) if they had gone into those games undefeated.

GAT_00: Cyberluddite: Yeah they are. The 49ers have a defense.

True, but the Saints have an offense. Most notably, including a quarterback. As much as I'd love to believe differently, the Niners still don't--they have won despite having Alex Smith as their QB, not because of it. It's to Harbaugh's credit that Smith has this year improved to "marginal" from "OMGTHATGUYSUCKSGETHIMOUTTATHERE," but it would sure be nice if the Niners didn't have to rely exclusively on their defense, their special teams, and Frank Gore to get the job done.

GAT_00: downstairs: mjoven1975: The 49ers are too high at #3.

They're certainly not better than the Saints by any means.

Yeah they are. The 49ers have a defense.

Yeah but the Saints offense alone makes them a higher ranking. Also, San Fran is 21st in passing defense and 1st in rushing defense. That evens out and makes them mediocre overall. Especially since the best teams out there are passing teams (mostly).

The Saints are 27th and 17th respectively in terms of pass/rush defense. Not good, but head-to-head, all things considered... the 49ers are not better than the Saints.

ricewater_stool: Lando Lincoln: The Lions ranked higher than the Bears? Sheeut. Even with Cutler out, I'd pick the Bears over them any day.

They played twice, split, and both games were lopsided. And now the Bears have no QB. How could you possible rank them higher?

Early in the season the Bears O-line was atrocious. Lately the Bears O-line has been getting the job done. Result: 5 wins in a row.

I watched the Bears game on Sunday. There was a guy out there throwing the ball and handing off the ball. I'm pretty sure they have a QB.

Cyberluddite: The Saints probably deserved to beat the Packers in Week 1. If they had, it would've been interesting to see how much differently those two teams seasons would've come out. I don't think the Packers' season would've been that much different--considering their schedule, they would probably 10-1 or at least 9-2 right now, but I'll bet the Saints wouldn't have laid an egg like they did in at least one of their other losses (especially against the Bucs) if they had gone into those games undefeated

The Saints problem isn't so much their defense. It is a problem, but the offense can make up for it.

The Saints boneheaded losses are because they didn't establish the run and went all pass-happy. Even the worst defense in the league can beat you if they know you're going to throw every single time.

downstairs: The Saints boneheaded losses are because they didn't establish the run and went all pass-happy. Even the worst defense in the league can beat you if they know you're going to throw every single time.

Their boneheaded loss, singular (as TB is a tough divisional game, come on), also came after the O-line mysteriously turned into Chicago-at-the-beginning-of-the-season for a game.

robsul82: The Saints DROP a spot after that game, hahaha. Drew's red T-shirt was right, man.

His red T-shirt?

Nabb1: robsul82: The Saints DROP a spot after that game, hahaha. Drew's red T-shirt was right, man.

His red T-shirt?

The other acronym for ESPN? Doesn't explain the Niners stuff, but hey. lol When this happens and the first thing heard over your airwaves postgame is whining about your defense, it's a c-o-n-spiracy.

RminusQ: Di, you'll get your numbers around 5pm ET, if you can wait that long.

I'm a highly wound and impatient woman, I'll have you crunch those numbers right this second, mister. Have them on my desk before I wake up from this here nap.

Oh and in before BIG GREEN woot! See? I'm making up for last week. :)



Linky poppy to slightly bigger grumble grumble size restrictions

Also, regarding the actual rankings, I'm quite pleased with where the Cowboys stand. I am also quite pleased with how they have been playing as of late. This pleases me. Some days are good. Some days, everybody lives.

PowerSlacker: /Seachickens fan, familiar with how easy six of the games on the 49ers schedule are

They haven't played the NFC West much at all.

IAmRight: They haven't played the NFC West much at all.

Also,

Baltimore Ravens: 4 games so far against NFC West
SF 49ers: 2 games so far against NFC West