ESPN Week 9 Power Rankings

[austintodallas]

Cowboys make a pretty big move...

http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/powerranking?season=2006&week=9

 

[dargonking999]

The top two teams remain the same, with the Bears on top for the fifth straight week. After that there was a decent amount of movement in the top five. The Patriots moved up to No. 3 with their impressive win over the Vikings, setting up a huge game Sunday between our No. 2 and No. 3 teams. The Giants jumped two spots to No. 4, their first appearance in the top five this season. The Chargers just barely edged the Broncos for the final spot in the top five.
With everyone (admit it parents, you'll probably eat more of your kids' candy than they will) in the Halloween spirit, we decided to have a little fun with the rankings this week, sending them out trick-or-treating.

We came close to running out of treats near the end, but we managed to scrape together something for even the bottom-feeders. Hey, it might be raisins or an apple, but can the Cardinals or Dolphins really complain?

Anyway, on to the rankings. You can rank the teams yourself with SportsNation's NFL Power Rankings.


2006 Power Rankings: Week 9
RK (LW) TEAM REC COMMENT
1 (1) Bears 7-0-0 Trick: Illusion that they were what the Cardinals thought they were.

Treat: That they're 7-0 and the rest of their opponents have a combined record of 30-34.
2 (2) Colts 7-0-0 Trick: That the Colts have had to actually -- gasp! -- come from behind to win a few games.

Treat: Manning. Peyton Manning. He's 007-smooth running that offense.
3 (4) Patriots 6-1-0 Trick: Rookie K Stephen Gostkowski's been OK, but he hasn't had to make a kick with the game on the line.

Treat: It's Manning for the Colts and it's Tom Brady for the Patriots. How can it be anything else?
4 (6) Giants 5-2-0 Trick: Fantasy owners everywhere are begging Tom Coughlin to get Tiki Barber a few more TDs.

Treat: Despite the lack of TDs, Barber is having another huge year. If he retires, he's going out on top.
5 (8) Chargers 5-2-0 Trick: Missing Shawne Merriman for four games is going to hurt.

Treat: There can't be too many players in the NFL more fun to watch than LaDainian Tomlinson.
6 (3) Broncos 5-2-0 Trick: Jake Plummer. He played better Sunday, but when your QB is ranked 31st in passer rating, that's a problem.

Treat: Champ Bailey. By far the NFL's best cornerback right now.
7 (9) Falcons 5-2-0 Trick: Michael Vick throwing three TDs in the first five games.

Treat: Vick throwing seven TDs in the last two games.
8 (13) Ravens 5-2-0 Trick: Brian Billick having to fire his friend and offensive coordinator Jim Fassel.

Treat: Ray Lewis' dance and the Ravens' defense are as good as ever.
9 (5) Saints 5-2-0 Trick: It's all good football-wise in the Big Easy, but remember there's still work to be done in the city.

Treat: Where to start? Reggie Bush, Marques Colston, Drew Brees, win in Superdome reopening, first place, happy fans …
10 (7) Bengals 4-3-0 Trick: Off-the-field problems causing distractions and affecting the Bengals on the field.

Treat: Chad Johnson's, er, Ocho Cinco's return to being a cocky, outspoken receiver who dances and talks trash.
11 (17) Cowboys 4-3-0 Trick: It wasn't all his fault, but Drew Bledsoe threw some really bad passes.

Treat: It's early, but Tony Romo looked like the real deal.
12 (16) Jaguars 4-3-0 Trick: Budding QB controversy for Jaguars?

Treat: Rookie Maurice Jones-Drew has teamed with Fred Taylor to give Jags 1-2 punch at RB.
13 (11) Seahawks 4-3-0 Trick: If the curse of the SB loser bites Seattle, injuries will be a big reason why.

Treat: Take a look at their second-half schedule. Even injuries wouldn't be an excuse for not making the playoffs.
14 (19) Chiefs 4-3-0 Trick: He's on pace to have 1,000 yards receiving, but fantasy owners would like a few more TDs from Tony Gonzalez.

Treat: Gotta be Damon Huard, who has a 100.4 QB rating since taking over.
15 (10) Panthers 4-4-0 Trick: From trendy Super Bowl pick to .500 team in just eight short weeks.

Treat: Keyshawn Johnson teaming up with Steve Smith to make one of the league's best receiving duos.
16 (12) Vikings 4-3-0 Trick: Bad year to be stuck in the same division as the Bears.

Treat: Steve Hutchinson and Bryant McKinnie forming arguably the best left side of any line in the league.
17 (15) Eagles 4-4-0 Trick: Have you looked at their second-half schedule?

Treat: We'll still give the nod to Donovan McNabb (16 TDs and 5 INTs), but he's got to get the Eagles back on track fast.
18 (14) Rams 4-3-0 Trick: The defense … still. It's better, but at No. 27 overall and against the run, it's still a problem.

Treat: Steven Jackson. He wanted the ball more, got his wish and has responded.
19 (20) Jets 4-4-0 Trick: Their four wins are against teams with six combined wins.

Treat: Chad Pennington and Eric Mangini. A tie. Both have answered questions and helped lead the Jets to a better-than-expected start.
20 (23) Packers 3-4-0 Trick: Four guys masquerading as defensive backs on the Packers' defense.

Treat: Seeing Brett Favre running around, making plays and having fun again.
21 (18) Steelers 2-5-0 Trick: Believing the Steelers actually had a chance to repeat as Super Bowl champs.

Treat: Still, they make no excuses, which is classy. Plus Willie Parker and Hines Ward continue to make plays.
22 (27) Titans 2-5-0 Trick: Kerry Collins.

Treat: Vince Young and the young Titans showing there's hope for the future.
23 (24) Commanders 2-5-0 Trick: All that money for coaches and free agents and you're 2-5.

Treat: Clinton Portis is good on the field and a unique character off it.
24 (21) Buccaneers 2-5-0 Trick: Chris Simms rupturing his spleen in a game.

Treat: Matt Bryant's 62-yard game winner that he dedicated to Trey, his then 3-week-old prematurely born baby who came home a few days earlier.
25 (22) Texans 2-5-0 Trick: The struggle to find a RB who will make fans forget they passed on Reggie Bush.

Treat: David Carr's hot start. He struggled last week, but he's growing up as a QB under Gary Kubiak.
26 (30) Browns 2-5-0 Trick: An offense all but quitting on coordinator Maurice Carthon.

Treat: An offense finally utilizing its weapons like Kellen Winslow and Braylon Edwards.
27 (26) Bills 2-5-0 Trick: J.P. Losman is still just too up-and-down.

Treat: Jason Peters was an undrafted free agent who played TE in college. Now he's Buffalo's starting LT and was rewarded earlier this year with a 5-year, $15 million deal.
28 (31) Raiders 2-5-0 Trick: Randy Moss. Sure the talent around him is part of it, but Moss also hasn't played very well.

Treat: The defense. For all the criticism the Raiders have taken, the defense has been pretty good all year.
29 (25) 49ers 2-5-0 Trick: The defense. The 49ers are giving up 33.6 points per game. That's bad.

Treat: Frank Gore. He's had some fumbling issues, but Gore (631 yards rushing) has been one of the NFL's biggest surprises.
30 (28) Lions 1-6-0 Trick: Matt Millen. Enough said.

Treat: Ernie Sims. Millen may have finally got one right on draft day.
31 (29) Dolphins 1-6-0 Trick: You can appreciate his effort, but Daunte Culpepper just wasn't ready.

Treat: Really, we have to come up with one? How about Zach Thomas and Jason Taylor who just keep making plays.
32 (32) Cardinals 1-7-0 Trick: Think this (2.8 yards per carry) is what Edgerrin James had in mind when he signed with the Cardinals?

Treat: Watch Anquan Boldin play sometime. The guy is a beast.

 

[dallascowboysfan31]

i'm happy with that. if we can sweep the road trip i think we can end up in the top 8.

 

[Bleu Star]

11 (17) Cowboys 4-3-0

Trick: It wasn't all his fault, but Drew Bledsoe threw some really bad passes.

Treat: It's early, but Tony Romo looked like the real deal.

Funny (and true). The Cowboys are definitely pointed back in the right direction. The pendulum has officially swung.

 

[ravidubey]

That's one of the best rankings I've seen in a long time. We are the fifth best NFC team on the list, but the Saints and Falcons won't scare me.

The Giants and Bears are good, but I think we can defeat either one.

 

[skinsngibbs4life]

That's one of the best rankings I've seen in a long time. We are the fifth best NFC team on the list, but the Saints and Falcons won't scare me.

The Giants and Bears are good, but I think we can defeat either one.

honestly, I dont think any team in the NFC can beat the bears. There defense is flat out amazing, and there offense is starting to actually produce some scores. but thats just my opinion.

 

[CrazyCowboy]

Well.....were moving on up......to the top!

 

[AtlCB]

honestly, I dont think any team in the NFC can beat the bears. There defense is flat out amazing, and there offense is starting to actually produce some scores. but thats just my opinion.

I'm not sure I agree. They beat:

Green Bay
Detroit
Minnesota
Seattle (without Shawn Alexander)
Buffalo
Arizona
San Francisco

They were also very lucky to come out with wins against Minnesota and Arizona. Their opponents are also a combined 17-33 and have also played relatively easy schedules.

The Bears might be the best team in the NFC, but they really have yet to be tested by even an above average team.

 

[ravidubey]

honestly, I dont think any team in the NFC can beat the bears. There defense is flat out amazing, and there offense is starting to actually produce some scores. but thats just my opinion.

I watched them play Minnesota and the Vikings had them beaten until a late game lucky fumble. When the Bears face a complete, balanced offense they suffer the same problems every other team does. They faced that just one time this season-- against Minnesota. Their schedule is truly a mockery.

The strength of the Bears is their DL and MLB which means you have to test their secondary. Short drops and quick patterns have a really good chacne to succeed to set up the running game. New England did this perfectly vs Minnesota and I think you'll see the same thing in a few weeks when they play the Bears.

The Bears' offense feeds off their defense; it is not special but it is solid.

I think it's idiotic that anyone considers them to be better than Indianapolis. Indy is the NFL's best team hands down.

 

[thekavorka]

Bears may or may not be overrated, but let's hope they defeat the Giants in two weeks.