Power rankings: Colts in a heap of trouble
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Newsday football columnist Bob Glauber goes the extra yard in covering the NFL
1. Patriots (9-0) (1): Pats’ quest for perfection marches on in Buffalo after a bye week.
2. Cowboys (8-1) (3): Tony Romo sizzles against Giants’ D, and Dallas is the runaway favorite to win the NFC East. And maybe, just maybe, the favorite to reach the Super Bowl.
3. Packers (8-1) (5): Pack pours it on against Vikes at home. Might as well chalk up another one this weekend, because it’s Carolina at Lambeau.
4. Steelers (7-2) (4): Steelers wobble early against Browns (is that a little better phrasing, BbiB! and Steel Curtain?) but pull off remarkable comeback to maintain control in AFC North. Put down another ‘W’ this Sunday, too. Steelers at Jets.
5. Colts (7-2) (2): Uh-oh. The injuries are starting to mount, and after two straight losses, the Colts are vulnerable. Now it’s Dwight Freeney who’s out (foot), and the Colts had to pick up Simeon Rice as insurance. Trouble.
6. Jaguars (6-3) (10): Man, this team is resilient. They go into Tennessee and grind it out against Titans to pull into tie for second in AFC South.
7. Chargers (5-4) (14): Darren Sproles carries the Chargers on his back with a kickoff and punt return for touchdown as Chargers right themselves with 23-21 win over Colts. (Yes, Sproles should have been our special teams player of the week. Now shyyaaddup, BbiB!)
8. Titans (6-3) (7): After quietly racking up half a dozen wins and giving the Colts something to think about, Titans stumble against Jags. Doesn’t get easier this week against what could be a resurgent Broncos team on the road.
9. Giants (6-3) (6): Giants insist they won’t fall apart in second half, but they’ll have to do some making up after coming up short against Dallas at home. In Detroit this weekend in a game that could have wild card implications.
10. Lions (6-3) (8): You think Giants fans are bummed today? Hey, Lions fans are deservedly paranoid after all this team has put them through in recent years. A loss in Arizona only compounds matters.
11. Buccaneers (5-4) (11): Bucs had week off and visit an improved Falcons team on Sunday.
12. Saints (4-5) (9): Looks like the Saints overlooked the 0-8 Rams and paid for it.
13. Browns (5-4) (12): Browns had it going early against Steelers, but couldn’t close the deal. At Baltimore this weekend in another biggie.
14. Seahawks (5-4) (16): Seahawks thump 49ers in Monday night snoozer. In awful NFC West, they’re still the team to beat.
15. Bills (5-4) (15): After 0-3 start, Bills have quietly won five of their last six. And if they didn’t choke late against Dallas, it would have been six straight. It all ends here, though, ‘cause big, bad Patriots roll into town this weekend.
16. Eagles (4-5) (22): Been a tough go for Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid this year, but they pull it together to beat Redskins.
17. Redskins (5-4) (17): A decidedly average team that just doesn’t cut it right now. They’ve got to show more to get into the tournament.
18. Broncos (4-5) (24): The yo-yo season continues. Broncos get hammered last week in Mike Shanahan’s worst loss in Denver, and then they smack the Chiefs in KC. Despite the brutal season, they’re still only a game out of first.
19. Chiefs (4-5) (13): Brodie Croyle to the rescue … not.
20. Bears (4-5) (23): Rex Grossman lives to see another day. He replaces an injured Brian Griese and does just enough to beat awful Raiders to keep Bears flickering playoff hopes alive.
21. Texans (4-5) (21): Texans are hopeful Andre Johnson can get back from a knee injury. They’re home to New Orleans on Sunday.
22. Cardinals (4-5) (25): Kurt Warner exposes weak underbelly of Lions secondary. At Cincy, home to San Francisco and Cleveland next three weeks. If they win ‘em all … nah.
23. Bengals (3-6) (26): Just shows how bad Ravens have become. Bengals have their way in Baltimore.
24. Falcons (3-6) (27): GM Rich McKay insists Bobby Petrino will be back next season. Sure seems like the Falcons are playing hard for the guy. They stink, but they could be a spoiler for some of the teams they play, including Tampa, Indy, New Orleans and Seattle.
25. Panthers (4-5) (19): Panthers are hopeful for a David Carr return. Not that that would mean much against Pack on Sunday.
26. Ravens (4-5) (18): Steve McNair’s non-throwing shoulder is hurt, so it’s the perfect excuse to put in Kyle Boller. Actually, Boller should be in there regardless.
27. Vikings (3-6) (20): No Adrian Peterson, no chance. Vikes are hopeful he won’t miss too much time with knee injury.
28. Rams (1-8) (31): This was the team we expected to see from the start of the season. Too bad The Greatest Show on Turf waited until halfway through to strut its stuff.
29. Raiders (2-7) (28): JaMarcus Russell must be really, really slow in picking up the offense if he’s not in there yet.
30. 49ers (2-7) (2-9): Wonder if the Niners are regretting their decision to make Alex Smith a No. 1 overall pick.
31. Jets (1-8) (30): With Pittsburgh and Dallas up next, 1-10 looks like a lock.
32. Dolphins (0-9) (32): Dolphins come close to beating Bills, but the nightmare continues. At Philly, then at Pittsburgh looks like 0-11.
Newsday football columnist Bob Glauber goes the extra yard in covering the NFL
1. Patriots (9-0) (1): Pats’ quest for perfection marches on in Buffalo after a bye week.
2. Cowboys (8-1) (3): Tony Romo sizzles against Giants’ D, and Dallas is the runaway favorite to win the NFC East. And maybe, just maybe, the favorite to reach the Super Bowl.
3. Packers (8-1) (5): Pack pours it on against Vikes at home. Might as well chalk up another one this weekend, because it’s Carolina at Lambeau.
4. Steelers (7-2) (4): Steelers wobble early against Browns (is that a little better phrasing, BbiB! and Steel Curtain?) but pull off remarkable comeback to maintain control in AFC North. Put down another ‘W’ this Sunday, too. Steelers at Jets.
5. Colts (7-2) (2): Uh-oh. The injuries are starting to mount, and after two straight losses, the Colts are vulnerable. Now it’s Dwight Freeney who’s out (foot), and the Colts had to pick up Simeon Rice as insurance. Trouble.
6. Jaguars (6-3) (10): Man, this team is resilient. They go into Tennessee and grind it out against Titans to pull into tie for second in AFC South.
7. Chargers (5-4) (14): Darren Sproles carries the Chargers on his back with a kickoff and punt return for touchdown as Chargers right themselves with 23-21 win over Colts. (Yes, Sproles should have been our special teams player of the week. Now shyyaaddup, BbiB!)
8. Titans (6-3) (7): After quietly racking up half a dozen wins and giving the Colts something to think about, Titans stumble against Jags. Doesn’t get easier this week against what could be a resurgent Broncos team on the road.
9. Giants (6-3) (6): Giants insist they won’t fall apart in second half, but they’ll have to do some making up after coming up short against Dallas at home. In Detroit this weekend in a game that could have wild card implications.
10. Lions (6-3) (8): You think Giants fans are bummed today? Hey, Lions fans are deservedly paranoid after all this team has put them through in recent years. A loss in Arizona only compounds matters.
11. Buccaneers (5-4) (11): Bucs had week off and visit an improved Falcons team on Sunday.
12. Saints (4-5) (9): Looks like the Saints overlooked the 0-8 Rams and paid for it.
13. Browns (5-4) (12): Browns had it going early against Steelers, but couldn’t close the deal. At Baltimore this weekend in another biggie.
14. Seahawks (5-4) (16): Seahawks thump 49ers in Monday night snoozer. In awful NFC West, they’re still the team to beat.
15. Bills (5-4) (15): After 0-3 start, Bills have quietly won five of their last six. And if they didn’t choke late against Dallas, it would have been six straight. It all ends here, though, ‘cause big, bad Patriots roll into town this weekend.
16. Eagles (4-5) (22): Been a tough go for Donovan McNabb and Andy Reid this year, but they pull it together to beat Redskins.
17. Redskins (5-4) (17): A decidedly average team that just doesn’t cut it right now. They’ve got to show more to get into the tournament.
18. Broncos (4-5) (24): The yo-yo season continues. Broncos get hammered last week in Mike Shanahan’s worst loss in Denver, and then they smack the Chiefs in KC. Despite the brutal season, they’re still only a game out of first.
19. Chiefs (4-5) (13): Brodie Croyle to the rescue … not.
20. Bears (4-5) (23): Rex Grossman lives to see another day. He replaces an injured Brian Griese and does just enough to beat awful Raiders to keep Bears flickering playoff hopes alive.
21. Texans (4-5) (21): Texans are hopeful Andre Johnson can get back from a knee injury. They’re home to New Orleans on Sunday.
22. Cardinals (4-5) (25): Kurt Warner exposes weak underbelly of Lions secondary. At Cincy, home to San Francisco and Cleveland next three weeks. If they win ‘em all … nah.
23. Bengals (3-6) (26): Just shows how bad Ravens have become. Bengals have their way in Baltimore.
24. Falcons (3-6) (27): GM Rich McKay insists Bobby Petrino will be back next season. Sure seems like the Falcons are playing hard for the guy. They stink, but they could be a spoiler for some of the teams they play, including Tampa, Indy, New Orleans and Seattle.
25. Panthers (4-5) (19): Panthers are hopeful for a David Carr return. Not that that would mean much against Pack on Sunday.
26. Ravens (4-5) (18): Steve McNair’s non-throwing shoulder is hurt, so it’s the perfect excuse to put in Kyle Boller. Actually, Boller should be in there regardless.
27. Vikings (3-6) (20): No Adrian Peterson, no chance. Vikes are hopeful he won’t miss too much time with knee injury.
28. Rams (1-8) (31): This was the team we expected to see from the start of the season. Too bad The Greatest Show on Turf waited until halfway through to strut its stuff.
29. Raiders (2-7) (28): JaMarcus Russell must be really, really slow in picking up the offense if he’s not in there yet.
30. 49ers (2-7) (2-9): Wonder if the Niners are regretting their decision to make Alex Smith a No. 1 overall pick.
31. Jets (1-8) (30): With Pittsburgh and Dallas up next, 1-10 looks like a lock.
32. Dolphins (0-9) (32): Dolphins come close to beating Bills, but the nightmare continues. At Philly, then at Pittsburgh looks like 0-11.
posted by The Gryphon at 7:58 PM
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