NFL Power Rankings: Week 11

Raving about how great the Patriots are in ’07 is like mentioning how superb Forrest Gump was in 1995; everyone’s aware and it’s been bantered ad nauseum. I’m waiting for a new development.

2. Indianaplis 7-2 (2)

No more Dwight Freeney?!?!?!!? Despite this catastrophic injury, I still refuse to drop any team that can throw six interceptions and allow two kick returns on the road and still position themselves for a game-winning chip shot.

3. Pittsburgh 7-2 (3)

Big Ben runs like a much smaller Ben.

4. Dallas 8-1 (6)

The Cowboys seem to have shored up some major weaknesses during their bye.

5. Green Bay 8-1 (6)

…And the running game finally comes along….

6. New York Giants 6-3 (5)

The combined record of the teams they’ve lost to is 24-2 (counting Dallas twice), but the only winning team they’ve beaten is Jekyll and Hyde Washington. Perhaps a trip to Detroit, where the Lions have yet to lose, will shed some more light on how good big blue really is.

7. Cleveland 5-4 (10)

When Eric Clapton and Lance Allman are given guitars, good things happen. When talented skill position players are given a stacked offensive line, good things happen. So how did I not see Derek and the Brownimos’ rise coming?

8. San Diego 5-4 (9)

Their TEPR (Thomas Emerick Power Rankings) Sunday Night Grade Book: Defense - A. Special Teams - A. Offense - Better off kneeling it.

9. Jacksonville 6-3 (12)

Apparently, after dropping out of my top twelve, Jacksonville realized they needed to shell out a “response game”...What can I say, I’m a regular Knute Rockne.

10. Tennessee 6-3 (7)

Vince Young achieved a rare eclipse of 250 yards passing, but that usually spells trouble for Tennessee

11. New Orleans 4-5 (11)

On paper, they lost to an 0-8 team, but it wasn’t the Bulger-Jackson Rams that lost most of those games. However, last week’s loss to St. Louis was still a shocking set back for New Orleans.

12. Tampa Bay 5-4 (14)

It feels odd to say, but Jeff Garcia needs to take better care of the football.

13. Detroit 6-3 (13)

Don’t look now, but Detroit’s undefeated at home…and rather mediocre anywhere else.

14. Seattle 5-4 (16)

…Looked superb against San Francisco, but most teams do.

15. Washington 5-4 (11)

The Redskins that I know would defy all reason and give Dallas a run for their money this weekend. On the other hand, logic would say they’ll be destroyed.

16. Houston 4-5 (20)

It’s easy to bash on the Texans for looking mediocre for much of this season, but I just can’t drop a team that posts 4-5 in the league’s best division into the twenties.

17. Buffalo 5-4 (17)

…Finding ways to win, but it’ll become much tougher if Lynch’s injury hampers his performance significantly.

18. Arizona 4-5 (20)

I was thinking Kurt could perhaps get a pirate hook attached to that left arm and put it to use.

19. Chicago 4-5 (21)

…Eeking out wins like nobody’s business.

20. Philadelphia 4-5 (25)

Brian Westbrook won’t let us put dirt on the coffin quite yet.

21. Denver 4-5 (26)

Selvin Young, A.K.A. Shanahan system running back no. 9,050, seems to have shot some life into this Denver offense.

22. Kansas City 4-5 (15)

…And the Brodie Croyle era commences!!! (Every week, Thomas, a bit liberal with “era”)

23. Cincinnatti 3-6 (24)

…The return of arguably the NFL’s best number three receiver, Chris Henry, really bolsters this offense’s once-rather-recently vaunted passing attack. Now all they to return is Rudi Johnson’s health.

24. Baltimore 4-5 (19)

Steve McNair wasn’t benched for being unable to throw a ten yard out, it was because he’s injured. We can all believe that his ridiculously awful play didn’t at all lead to him being replaced.

25. Atlanta 3-6 (28)

Is a two-game winning steak enough to allow the TEPR (Thomas Emerick Power Rankings) to start saying “Hotlanta”?...Oh, there’s never a good enough reason to say it??

26. Carolina 4-5 (22)

Bring out the prune juice, because Testaverde and Favre prepare for the oldest quarterback battle in NFL history this Sunday…Like Van Morrison’s Moondance album; oldies but goodies.

27. St. Louis Rams 1-8 (32)

Bulger and Jackson have returned, but for how long?

28. Minnesota 3-6 (18)

As long as the A-Train is out of commission, so is the Vikings hope-train??

29. New York Jets 1-8 (27)

To sum up their season thus far, the two most penalized linemen in the league wear silver and black.

30. Oakland 2-7 (29)

If the last five week’s have shown us anything, it’s that Oakland will lose yet another close one.

31. San Francisco 2-7 (30)

They look awful. Actually, not just awful, I would even go as far to say Hurricane-esque.

32. Miami 0-9 (31)

Good bye last year’s quarterback draft pick; welcome the new second rounder.