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2007 Power Rankings: Week 15 RK (LW)TEAMRECCOMMENT
1 (1)Patriots13-0-0Here's what Bill Belichick should do when he meets Eric Mangini at midfield following the Pats' 58-3 win Sunday: Hand Mangini a camcorder and say, "I don't know what I was thinking stealing your crappy team's signs. But feel free to tape ours."
2 (2)Cowboys12-1-0First, Buffalo. Now, Detroit. The Cowboys have won two games that they really should've lost. "We're not happy with the way we played," Terence Newman told the Morning News after escaping the Lions den, "but you always take the win."
3 (3)Colts11-2-0In this week's voting, the Colts actually tied the Cowboys for the second spot in the rankings. When that happens, the team with the better record gets the higher ranking. So, sorry Colts, you'll need one more vote.
4 (4)Packers11-2-0In blowing out Oakland, the Packers completed a sweep of the four AFC West opponents -- just the second time since the merger in 1970 that they've swept opponents in the other conference. In the three years prior to this one, GB was 2-10 vs. the AFC.
5 (6)Jaguars9-4-0Fred Taylor has reached the 100-yard mark in three straight games, the first time he's done that since the second half of the 2004 season. He turns 32 next month, but he's running like he's 22. "Fred's hungry," QB David Garrard told the T-U.
6 (7)Seahawks9-4-0QB Matt Hasselbeck can't match the attention given to Brady, Manning, Romo and Favre, but he's quietly putting together the best season of his seven years in Seattle. He's on pace for career highs in yards, TDs and passer rating.
7 (9)Chargers8-5-0Shawne Merriman, claiming a Titans player illegally hit him, told the U-T: "There were a bunch of cheap shots out there, but they can get some cheap seats on the sofa at home while they watch us [in the playoffs]." Oh, snap!
8 (5)Steelers9-4-0Guarantee or not, the Steelers got a taste of just how far they are from being a championship-caliber team in getting blown out by the Pats. "If that's the measuring stick," coach Mike Tomlin said, 'we're not close."
9 (10)Giants9-4-0The question came up Monday and it's a good one: If the Giants have a playoff spot clinched by Week 15, will they rest the starters vs. the Pats in the season finale? Logic says they should, but some players may want a shot at that unbeaten mark.
10 (11)Browns8-5-0If the Browns don't make the playoffs, they'll have only themselves to blame, since they control their own fate with three games left. Beating Buffalo (home), Cincinnati (away) and SF (home) isn't asking too much.
11 (8)Buccaneers8-5-0QB Jeff Garcia will return after missing the last two weeks with a bruised back. But the Bucs play the lowly Falcons, so why the rush? If the game is tight and Luke McCown is struggling, then you can send in Garcia. No need to thank us, coach.
12 (13)Vikings7-6-0The Vikings have played 707 regular-season games since joining the NFL in 1961 -- and not until the last three weeks have they won three straight games by at least 20 points. Your sleeper playoff pick?
13 (12)Titans7-6-0That OT loss to the Chargers may come back to haunt them, but the Titans have a favorable schedule down the stretch: at KC, home against the Jets, then the finale against a Colts team that could be resting its starters.
14 (15)Bills7-6-0Trent Edwards became the first rookie QB since Jim Plunkett in 1971 to throw three TD passes in the first half of an NFL game. More important, he's 5-1 as a starter -- which is why the Bills are contending for a playoff spot.
15 (20)Broncos6-7-0In this season of underachieving, the Broncos' 34-point win over KC was their most lopsided since moving to INVESCO Field in 2001. So why didn't they play like that before? "That's the million-dollar question," John Lynch told the Denver Post.
16 (17)Saints6-7-0It's shocking that Aaron Stecker rushed for 100 yards on Monday night. It's even more shocking that it was the second 100-yard game of his eight-year career. Expect another 100-yard performance in 2010.
17 (21)Commanders6-7-0Thanks to Jason Campbell's knee injury, 36-year-old Todd Collins is expected to make his first NFL start since 1997. Know who the backup QB for the 'Skins was that year? Jeff Hostetler! Feeling old now?
18 (14)Cardinals6-7-0The Cards showed plenty of fight Sunday. Unfortunately, it was in the locker room after losing to Seattle, as Darnett Dockett and Darryl Blackstock got into an argument. "Words were exchanged. ... It's nothing," Dockett told the Az. Republic.
19 (22)Texans6-7-0Best team in the NFC South? Unofficially, that'd be the AFC South's Texans, who beat division leader Jacksonville to go 3-1 against that division this season. But finishing .500 will be tough, since Denver, Indy and Jacksonville remain on the schedule.
20 (18)Lions6-7-0After a hearbreaking loss to Dallas, Damien Woody told the Free Press: "The problem with the Lions is that it's acceptable to put up a fight. At the end of the day, it's not acceptable. It's all about wins. I don't care about putting up a fight."
21 (19)Eagles5-8-0The Eagles wrap up a brutal four-game stretch at Dallas. In the previous three weeks, Philly has lost to the Pats, Seahawks and Giants (a combined 31-8 record) by a grand total of 10 points. These guys aren't winning, but they aren't pushovers.
22 (25)Bengals5-8-0Not that it matters since they're out of the playoff chase, but the defense has allowed a paltry 12.2 points a game in the last five games. The bad news? None of the offenses they face in that stretch were ranked in the NFL's top 10.
23 (16)Bears5-8-0What has happened to defensive end Mark Anderson's pass-rushing ability? The second-year man from Alabama produced 16 sacks in his first 20 regular-season games, but he has just one in the last nine.
24 (23)Panthers5-8-0Combine the points in the first, second and fourth quarters and the Panthers have scored 172 while giving up 191. Not very good -- but it's certainly better than the third quarter when they've been outscored 103-38.
25 (24)Ravens4-9-0A day after his team lost its seventh straight game, coach Brian Billick thought it was the appropriate time to announce that he will be back next season. You'll pardon Ravens fans if they're not exactly high-fiving each other about the news.
26 (26)Raiders4-9-0Shane Lechler had punted 572 times (which, given the Raiders' poor offense, seems like a half-season's worth) without having one returned for a TD ... until the Packers' Will Blackmon did it Sunday. Somewhere, Ray Guy is crying.
27 (27)Chiefs4-9-0That regular season finale on the night of Dec. 30 at the Jets looked enticing at one point (the whole Herm Edwards vs. former team angle). Now it's just a game of two teams who can't wait to end the season.
28 (28)Rams3-10-0Things have gotten so bad in St. Louis that not even Isaac Bruce is catching passes. For the first time since the 2003 regular-season finale, Bruce went without a catch. It's just the sixth time in his 196-game career he's been held catchless.
29 (29)Jets3-10-0Here's what Eric Mangini should do when he meets Bill Belichick at midfield following the 58-3 loss Sunday: Hand him a copy of the Leave Bill Belichick Alone youtube clip and say, "Is this what you were taping 'cause I gotta say, it's damn funny!"
30 (31)Falcons3-10-0Putting the last few months in its proper perspective, owner Arthur Blank told the J-C.: "The beauty of the National Football League is that seasons come to an end," he said. And none too fast in Atlanta, right, Artie?
31 (30)49ers3-10-0How bad have things gotten in the Bay Area? The highlight of the season may very well be watching how third-string QB Shaun Hill performs now that Alex Smith and Trent Dilfer are both out with injuries.
32 (32)Dolphins0-13-0Three sacks, one resulting in a fumble. Tripped up for a loss. Two passes, one incomplete, one for a six-yard gain. Two handoffs. That was John Beck's day before he was pulled after eight snaps. Thanks for playing, here's your parting gifts.
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