Monday, November 25, 2013

NFL 3rd Quarter: 12 weeks of Confusion - Part one


NFL 3rd Quarter: 12 weeks of Confusion - Part one
by Dan Salem and Todd Salem (11-25-13)



Twelve weeks of the NFL season have transpired, with lots of room for confusion. The top five and bottom five are evident, with a slop of mediocrity everywhere else. Its the perfect time for us at Seesaw Sports to update our power rankings. Both leagues have one playoff spot completely up for grabs, but does it even matter? Will that final team be this year's late season Cinderella, or will everyone's preseason picks play out come playoff time? With three quarters of the season complete, our NFL debate rages on.
3rd Quarter Power Rankings:
[Numbers in parentheses equal difference in rank from Todd: i.e (+1) equals one spot higher]


TODD                                DAN

32. Houston                      Houston (0)               
31. Jacksonville                Jacksonville (0)                          
30. Atlanta                         Atlanta (0)             
29. Tampa Bay                  Minnesota (-2)                 
28. Washington                 Tampa Bay (+1)                
27. Minnesota                   Oakland (-3)                          
26. Cleveland                   Cleveland (0)                           
25. Buffalo                        Washington (+3)           
24. Oakland                      New York Giants (-1)                             
23. New York Giants         Buffalo (+2)                                          
22. New York Jets             New York Jets (0)
21. Miami                          Miami (0) 
20. St. Louis                      Tennessee (-1)
19. Tennessee                   Philadelphia (-6)
18. Chicago                       Pittsburgh (-2)
17. Baltimore                      Chicago (+1)
16. Pittsburgh                    Green Bay (-1)    
15. Green Bay                    Detroit (-4)
14. Indianapolis                  St. Louis (+6)         
13. Philadelphia                  Baltimore (+4) 
12. San Diego                     Cincinnati (-7)
11. Detroit                           Dallas (-2)
10. Arizona                         Indianapolis (+4)
9. Dallas                             San Diego (+3)
8. Kansas City                    San Francisco (-1)
7. San Francisco                 Arizona (+3)      
6. Carolina                          Carolina (0)
5. Cincinnati                        New Orleans (-3)
4. New England                   Kansas City (+4)    
3. Seattle                             Denver (-2)
2. New Orleans                   New England (+2)
1. Denver                            Seattle (+2)

Comments from the rankings:

TODD:
Somehow, as inexplicable as it is, the more games we get as evidence, the harder this list is to make.

Rather than the picture clearing up, it is becoming more muddled. Some teams have made giant leaps in my mind since the season's halfway mark. Others have plummeted just as far. Yet the most evident point here is the tiers that have developed. The top three teams are Tier A, the elites. Then teams four through 18 or 19 are in a large group together. How much really separates Cincinnati at five from Chicago at 18? In my mind, not much.

Tier C is everyone else through Tampa Bay. We have to give Atlanta, Jacksonville and Houston their own fourth tier though, for being just awful. The funny part is, how scary would the Texans or Falcons be next year if they end up with the first pick in the draft? That's the NFL for you!


DAN:
Things have certainly gotten more confusing, but I believe you are the one who is truly confused. Your tiers are headed in the right direction, but limiting the top to only three teams is stupid. To leave out New England from Tier A, who is getting better each week and just beat Denver, is crazy talk! Tier A is my top five teams. Putting Cincinnati ahead of the Chiefs is equally as ridiculous. But you'll notice I have them way down at twelve. They are barely better than Baltimore at this point.

I don't like putting Dallas at eleven, but I felt no potential division winner should be any lower. Although they are probably worse than the Bengals, Ravens and maybe even the Rams at this point.

If Tier A is my top five, then Tier B is slots six to nine. These two tiers are our playoff teams, our contenders and teams with a shot at making noise in the post season. After this its a wash. I like the four tier system, so Tier C is every team from ten to twenty six. There is not much separating the Browns from the Colts or Cowboys right now. And in Tier D we have our bottom four teams, which should be called Tier P for poop. They stink, are awful, and should be easy wins for any opponent. Right Green Bay? Minnesota and Tampa Bay are probably D+ or C- teams, but who cares. The fun is in my Tier B, which has a modest four teams as compared to your insane fifteen teams.

You can't honestly tell me that Carolina and New England are on par with Green Bay or the Eagles. No way! Unless Aaron Rodgers comes back, both those teams are finishing at 8-8 with the likes of the Jets and Rams (if they are lucky).


 

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