***Official NewbieJr Power Rankings- Week 8***

[NewbieJr 541]

Once again, I am the first national sportswriter to release my NFL power rankings. Some say USA Today waits until they see mine before releasing theirs.

1. Tennessee Titans (Last week- 1) As an undefeated team, I was kind of obliged to have them here. I still wondered how a run-based team would do if they ever had to play from behind. Well, they anwered that question last night. They deserve to be here.

 

2. New York Giants (3)- Beat a very good Pittsburgh team this week. They look like the cream of teh very tough NFC east. They have a few inter-divisional games coming up.

 

3. Pittsburgh Steelers (2)- Still a very good team., They'd be a great team if they could keep away from NFC East opponents.

 

4. Carolina Panthers (7)- Rallied to beat Arizona. They've quietly emassed a 6-2 record. Delhomme and Smith are locked in right now.

 

5. Washington Redskins (6)- Didn't look great in beating the lowly Lions, but they did manage to pull out a win. They live or die by Campbell's ability to avoid turnovers. Portis is a top three back right now.

 

6. Philadelphia Eagles (8)- With Westbrook back, they are a different team, even though Buckhalter played well in his absence. Didn't 'move up' as much as other teams moved-down.

 

7. New England Patriots (10)- Don't look now, but the Pats are tied with Buffalo for the AFC East lead. Cassell seems to be getting bit more comfortable. It wasn't a dominating home win against an average Rams team, but this is a different Patriots team. They are playing to pull out close wins. And succeeding.

 

8. Buffalo Bills (4)- Still the most mysterious team in the league to me. They are 5-2 and have losses that make you scratch your head. If they want to be considered elite, they have to be able to win a road game in Miami.

 

9. Tampa Bay (5)- They looked so good leading up to this week, and played a Dallas team who was ripe for the picking. I know it's tough to win on the road, but you need to be able to generate more than nine points of offense to be a real good NFL team.

 

10. Arizona Cardinals (Bubbling)- Even though they lost, they nearly beat a very good Panther team in Carolina. Warner is clicking with his receivers. They may clinch the NFC West by Thanksgiving.

 

BUBBLING UNDER- Green Bay, Dallas, Chicago

 

Keep an eye on- Houston

 

 

Discuss amongst yourselves

[redtodd 7]

7. New England Patriots (10)- Don't look now, but the Pats are tied with Buffalo for the AFC East lead. Cassell seems to be getting bit more comfortable. It wasn't a dominating home win against an averafe Rams team, but this is a different Patriots team. They are playing to pull out close wins. And succeeding.

 

Not bad for a coach who was viewed as having "destroyed" his image as a great coach when he lost to Miami.

[Franknbeans 46]

Dallas fans will have your head but you like that, don't you? I like the list BTW.

[NewbieJr 541]

Dallas fans will have your head but you like that, don't you? I like the list BTW.

Hey, I'm still keeping them in the Bubbling Under section, right? They looked bad, but pulled out a win. If they can manage to beat the Giants this week, they'll get back in the top ten.

 

To me, this Cowboy team is very average right now. I certainly don't think there's a team in my top ten that they could beat on a nuetral field.

[Willis McGahee's Dentist 61]

Looks pretty good. I might be inclined to move Buffalo up a notch or two, though. A Miami road loss isn't as bad as it once was. They are a tough team, especially at home. 5-2 is still very respectable. I'd agree with your top 5. Then, I'd go 6. Buffalo, 7. New England, 8. Philadelphia, 9. Tampa Bay, 10. Green Bay (although choosing between GB, Ari, Dallas, Chi, Jax, etc. would chanmge week to week).

[kutulu 1,724]

An otherwise good list, ruined by homerism.

[NewbieJr 541]

An otherwise good list, ruined by homerism.

B.S. No homerism in those rankings.

[kutulu 1,724]

B.S. No homerism in those rankings.

 

Exactly wha a homer would say.

[NewbieJr 541]

Exactly wha a homer would say.

Two weeks, mouth.

[kutulu 1,724]

Two weeks, mouth.

 

 

By then you'll have Philly in the top three, yet still last in their own division.

[kutulu 1,724]

It took three weeks and countless viewings of other power rankings, but I finally found one that has the Eagles as high or higher than Newb's rank, so I'll grudgingly retract the homer stain from his rankings:

 

10. Philadelphia (4-3). Is there a more valuable back in football than Brian Westbrook?

 

~ The Fine Fifteen, Peter King

 

10. Philadelphia Eagles

Why is no one talking about Asante Samuel’s strong play?

 

~pfw.com

 

10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3).

 

~pft.com

 

13. Philadelphia Eagles: If Brian Westbrook can somehow stay healthy, can this team make a run?

 

~Silver, 32 Questions, YAHOO

 

6. Philadelphia Eagles, Is Brian Westbrook the most dangerous player in the NFC East?

 

~USA Today Sports Weekly (print)

[NewbieJr 541]

It took three weeks and countless viewings of other power rankings, but I finally found one that has the Eagles as high or higher than Newb's rank, so I'll grudgingly retract the homer stain from his rankings:

 

10. Philadelphia (4-3). Is there a more valuable back in football than Brian Westbrook?

 

~ The Fine Fifteen, Peter King

 

10. Philadelphia Eagles

Why is no one talking about Asante Samuel’s strong play?

 

~pfw.com

 

10. Philadelphia Eagles (4-3).

 

~pft.com

 

13. Philadelphia Eagles: If Brian Westbrook can somehow stay healthy, can this team make a run?

 

~Silver, 32 Questions, YAHOO

 

6. Philadelphia Eagles, Is Brian Westbrook the most dangerous player in the NFC East?

 

~USA Today Sports Weekly (print)

 

These are obviously my best rankings yet. Other than your weekly ';homerism' post, I've had nary a disagreement.

[listen2me 23 1,967]

Not bad at all. The only thing I would ask..

 

I'm no Dallas fan by any means.

 

But how do the Eagles who beat ATL (I think they were bubbling for you last week) move up 2.

 

But Dallas who was bubbling beat your 5th ranked team from last week with Brad Johnson (as unimpressive a win as it was) stay at bubbling?

 

Don't really get the logic there, but not bad.

[swirvenirvin 25]

Carolina has played almost all home games 5-0 at home 1-2 on the road your ranking of them at #4 is retarded

[kutulu 1,724]

 

These are obviously my best rankings yet. Other than your weekly ';homerism' post, I've had nary a disagreement.

 

Two weeks, the good guys send you back to the teens.

[NewbieJr 541]

Not bad at all. The only thing I would ask..

 

I'm no Dallas fan by any means.

 

But how do the Eagles who beat ATL (I think they were bubbling for you last week) move up 2.

 

But Dallas who was bubbling beat your 5th ranked team from last week with Brad Johnson (as unimpressive a win as it was) stay at bubbling?

 

Don't really get the logic there, but not bad.

I think it was more of a reaction to how bad Dallas looked in their win. I dropped Tampa Bay due to the loss, but I didn't feel the Cowboys warranted a big jump because of that win. If it had been in Tampa, I would have been more impressed that they were able to win an ugly game on the road.

 

As for the eagles, their win over Atlanta was nice, but expected. They jumped two spots due to two teams (Tampa Bay and Buffalo) losing games that should have been winnable. Had they won their games, the eagles would have stayed at 8.

[NewbieJr 541]

Carolina has played almost all home games 5-0 at home 1-2 on the road your ranking of them at #4 is retarded

At this point, who could you possibly put ahead of them?

 

It seems like no one wants to hold on to those top spots. I had Buffalo and Tampa Bay above them last week, but both of those teams lost to average teams this week. (I only call Dallass 'average' due to their injuries).

 

I guess a case could go for Washington, but an 8 point victory over the winless Lions is hardly making a statement of eliteness. Carolina was at 7 and beat a good Arizona team. Even though it was a home game, it was still a good result.

 

 

Who would you put at four?

[NewbieJr 541]

Two weeks, the good guys send you back to the teens.

You could be right. The rankings get much easier after two ranked teams play head-to-head. Takes a lot of teh subjectivity out of it.

 

As an old friend of mine used to say, time will tell.

[kutulu 1,724]

As for the eagles, their win over Atlanta was nice, but expected. They jumped two spots due to two teams (Tampa Bay and Buffalo) losing games that should have been winnable. Had they won their games, the eagles would have stayed at 8.

 

 

Nice how you ignore the worst call of the season when it helps your team squweak out a win. .

[NewbieJr 541]

Nice how you ignore the worst call of the season when it helps your team squweak out a win. .

12 points<>Squeak

 

HTH

[kutulu 1,724]

12 points<>Squeak

 

HTH

 

 

Err, it was a six point game till that bullshit call took the ball away from the Falcons. HTH

[NewbieJr 541]

Err, it was a six point game till that bullshit call took the ball away from the Falcons. HTH

12 point win.

 

HTH

 

 

I got lambasted when I posted teh picture of Buckhalter getting in the endzone against the Bears. The right call there would have reuslted in six points and a victory.

 

The muffed-punt call would have given Atlanta the ball. They didn't exacatly light up the Eagles defense that game. Why would you assume they would have scorted on that drive? A touchdown, nonetheless.

 

In other words, if we correct both bad calls, the Eagles get one more win and the Falcons get a possesion in their own territory, down six. I think Philly would take that deal.

[kutulu 1,724]

12 point win.

 

HTH

I got lambasted when I posted teh picture of Buckhalter getting in the endzone against the Bears. The right call there would have reuslted in six points and a victory.

 

The muffed-punt call would have given Atlanta the ball. They didn't exacatly light up the Eagles defense that game. Why would you assume they would have scorted on that drive? A touchdown, nonetheless.

 

In other words, if we correct both bad calls, the Eagles get one more win and the Falcons get a possesion in their own territory, down six. I think Philly would take that deal.

 

I just was hoping you would mention it since you went to the "should of" well when it aided your argument, but ignored it when it didn't.

 

Not assuming, but they could have scored. Fock, you watched the game. They just did score a TD before that abortion of a play occurred and the resulting challenge rule screwing. Matty Ice only needs a few seconds to bring a team back.

[NewbieJr 541]

I just was hoping you would mention it since you went to the "should of" well when it aided your argument, but ignored it when it didn't.

 

Not assuming, but they could have scored. Fock, you watched the game. They just did score a TD before that abortion of a play occurred and the resulting challenge rule screwing. Matty Ice only needs a few seconds to bring a team back.

Yeah, cuz Matty Ice was really looking like Joe Montana out there on Sunday.