stormtrooper8
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- May 30, 2022
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A lot of shifting towards the top of the rankings this week. Here they are entering Week 8 (last week in parenthesis)
1. Chiefs (2) - This was probably the most impressive offensive performance of the season by any team thus far. This was an absolute clinic. I understand that the 49ers aren’t 100% healthy, but the way the Chiefs just toyed with some of the best individual players in this league (Bosa and Warner in particular) was just magnificent. Bravo. They get the top spot back despite the head-to-head loss.
2. Bills (1) - Buffalo has been good this season, and they are coming off a nice win in Arrowhead. The question for them going forward will be consistency – can they get the production from the running game, and can they get the defense healthy enough to be the juggernaut that many people think they are?
3. Eagles (3) - It will be interesting to see how the bye affects this team. Could it hinder their momentum at all, or will they pick up where they left off?
4. Bengals (7) - This team is really starting to find a groove, and Burrow is clearly back to his normal self. Through 7 games, this team has not allowed a single touchdown in the second half of a game. With the offense jelling and the defense continuing to be stout, they could very well be in the same group as KC and Buffalo in no time.
5. Rams (5) - They really needed a bye to get some guys back and re-calibrate a bit. Can they get the offense going against a pissed off Niners team this week?
6. Vikings (6) - Another solid team coming off of a bye. Like Philly, can this team keep the momentum going?
7. 49ers (4) - The injuries are clearly an issue, and the schedule is not super easy in the near future. But the players who have been available have not looked great these past couple weeks, which is concerning. McCaffery is a great addition and I think they will be great down the stretch, so there is still much to be optimistic about.
8. Ravens (9) - It’s always nice to get a division win, but yet again Baltimore nearly squandered a game it was up double-digits in. They’ve been up double-digits in all 7 games this season, but are still just 4-3. At minimum, the defense is starting to round out and play better. Tough one coming up in Tampa on a short week.
9. Cowboys (12) - The defense continues to look nearly as good as any in the league, and credit to the coaching staff for sticking to the ground game in Dak’s return. They are still 3rd in the NFC East despite the 5-2 record. Things should come down to earth soon enough.
10. Titans (14) - I think this team is flying under the radar a bit since that loss to the Bills. They haven’t dropped a game since, winning 4 straight and taking back control of the division with a 2-game sweep of the Colts in the process. Divisional road games are tough, so they need to avoid a letdown spot down in Houston this weekend.
11. Giants (16) - They may be the worst 6-1 team in NFL history, but they keep finding ways to win close games. Another winnable game is on deck, with the G-Men traveling to the Pacific Northwest to take on an upstart Seahawks team coming off a big win. Who thought this would be such a big game at this point in the season?
12. Jets (17) - The year of the Big Apple continues, with the Jets nearly keeping pace with the Giants at 5-2. The draft picks are clearly paying off, and the Jets defense looks better week by week. Zach Wilson has helped keep the ship steady, despite being pretty limited as a thrower. They will have a pissed off Patriots team coming to town, where they haven’t looked as good as when they’ve been on the road.
13. Bucs (8) - There is not much to say about what happened in Charlotte. That may have been one of the worst performances by a perceived “good” team that I’ve seen in a while. Brady doesn’t look awful, but he’s not showing much spark. A putrid offensive line isn’t helping. They’re in the mix because of the ineptitude of their division. That’s basically it. They have a lot of work to do.
14. Patriots (10) - Even with the “flukey” conditions, this team had a pretty atrocious performance to fall to 3-4 after gaining some momentum the previous couple weeks. I’m not sure what to make of the QB situation, though it looks like there’s a real controversy there. They have to come in with more energy against the Jets, whom they’ve had a lot of success against.
15. Packers (11) - This offense really sucks. Three straight losses to non-elite teams (sorry Giants, Jets, and Commanders). They haven’t been able to generate much in any of these. They gotta commit more to running the rock and playing solid defense. Rodgers might need to take the happy drug before visiting Orchard Park Sunday night.
16. Dolphins (18) - It was ugly, but the Fins got the job done against a Steelers team that was appearing to gain a little momentum. Tua looked OK in his return, which is good enough to be a significant upgrade over the other options. Now they go to Detroit, which could be a great opportunity to get to 5-3.
17. Chargers (13) - I am being generous leaving them here. Injuries can only be an excuse for so long. This team is a mess, and Herbert has not looked good these past couple of games. They need the bye not only to get healthy, but to also do some soul-searching. 4-3 against the easiest schedule in the league ain’t gonna cut it.
18. Raiders (19) - The Raiders look to be getting things back on track. Having Jacobs be so productive makes a huge difference for their all-around offense. They need to keep feeding him…makes life for Carr much easier. They visit a reeling Saints team this week, so they have a chance to keep the run going.
19. Cardinals (21) - Having DeAndre Hopkings definitely made Murray look more comfortable. The defense made some big plays, which were much needed since they lacked them leading up to this one, but they looked pretty leaky in the game as well. Tough trip to Minnesota on deck, but I think they can hang there.
20. Colts (15) - Pretty disappointing showing in Nashville and tough to absorb a sweep from the division rival. They are still in it because of the weak division, but they need to stop shooting themselves in the foot. Looks like they will try Ehlinger, which is questionable but not completely unwarranted. They get the Commanders at home, which will provide a good opportunity for them.
21. Seahawks (23) - This team keeps the momentum going with a big win on the road in LA. The offense has continued to be productive, and is getting more balanced. More impressively, the defense continues to improve week-to-week. The red-hot Giants come to town in what is surprisingly a big time match-up in terms of NFC playoff implications.
22. Falcons (20) - Atlanta finally came down to earth a bit in the Queen City, when Joe Burrow annihilated them. That was a bad match-up for them, but still a disheartening performance. Still, the division is doing them a bunch of favors. They are tied atop the standings thanks to the Bucs reeling a bit. Carolina at home provides them an opportunity to get back to .500 right away.
23. Steelers (22) - This team fought hard after a big win against Tampa. Pickett is showing signs, but too many mistakes against a decent team on the road and you’re gonna have a hard time winning. The team is showing some life offensively, but again the turnovers are really what did them in. Going on the road to Philly is probably not going to go well, but you never know.
24. Commanders (28) - Pretty nice win for the Commanders, who got some nice plays from Heinicke in Wentz’s absence. The offense is far from fixed, but nice to see this team reel off a couple wins and play itself into the wild card picture in a bad conference.
25. Bears (29) - Hell of a showing by Da Bears in Foxboro on MNF. Fields seems to be showing signs of progression each and every week, which is great if you’re a Bears fan. They’re not as bad as people think. They have Dallas on the road this week, which will be tough, but I think they can battle there.
26. Browns (25) - They fought a bit harder in this one, but reality is they just kinda suck lol. Maybe more than kinda. The defense has been especially disappointing, so acting like DeShaun Watson returning is going to fix this is a reach. They got the hot Bengals coming to town on MNF.
27. Saints (24) - Yikes. This team not only has a QB room disaster, but they also have an atrocious defense to pair with it. What a disappointing unit that’s been. Still, they’re only 1 game out because of their division. They have a rolling Raiders team coming to town, so that’ll be a tough task for them.
28. Panthers (31) - Heck of a win for Carolina at home – definitely the shocker of the week around the league. Their defense has been playing solid, and PJ Walker finally showed some competency for them at the QB position. They’re still pretty bad, but a good moment for them. And hey, they’re only 1 game out! Divisional game in Atlanta this week.
29. Jaguars (26) - Disappointing loss for the Jags at home, these guys are reeling. Kind of crazy they are +18 in point margin despite being 2-5. Now they go over across the pond to London, where it’s usually a home game for them, against a bad Denver team. Opportunity to get some things right.
30. Lions (27) - They are easily one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year. Not only has their defense continued to struggle, but their offense has been completely lackluster as well. Think Campbell has lost the locker room a bit. Miami at home is winnable, but don’t like this team’s chances against anyone right now.
31. Texans (30) - Houston’s defense finally got exposed a bit in Vegas. The lack of talent on that side of the ball was really on display in this loss. Like I’ve said many weeks, I think they will continue to fight week after week. But it might be tough to stay competitive as the losses mount. They have a hot Titans team coming to town this week.
32. Broncos (32) - They were competitive, but yet another lackluster showing by the offense in this one. They just look lost out there, with or without Russ. Now they go to London to play a pissed off Jags teams, who basically will enjoy home field across the pond. Good luck.
1. Chiefs (2) - This was probably the most impressive offensive performance of the season by any team thus far. This was an absolute clinic. I understand that the 49ers aren’t 100% healthy, but the way the Chiefs just toyed with some of the best individual players in this league (Bosa and Warner in particular) was just magnificent. Bravo. They get the top spot back despite the head-to-head loss.
2. Bills (1) - Buffalo has been good this season, and they are coming off a nice win in Arrowhead. The question for them going forward will be consistency – can they get the production from the running game, and can they get the defense healthy enough to be the juggernaut that many people think they are?
3. Eagles (3) - It will be interesting to see how the bye affects this team. Could it hinder their momentum at all, or will they pick up where they left off?
4. Bengals (7) - This team is really starting to find a groove, and Burrow is clearly back to his normal self. Through 7 games, this team has not allowed a single touchdown in the second half of a game. With the offense jelling and the defense continuing to be stout, they could very well be in the same group as KC and Buffalo in no time.
5. Rams (5) - They really needed a bye to get some guys back and re-calibrate a bit. Can they get the offense going against a pissed off Niners team this week?
6. Vikings (6) - Another solid team coming off of a bye. Like Philly, can this team keep the momentum going?
7. 49ers (4) - The injuries are clearly an issue, and the schedule is not super easy in the near future. But the players who have been available have not looked great these past couple weeks, which is concerning. McCaffery is a great addition and I think they will be great down the stretch, so there is still much to be optimistic about.
8. Ravens (9) - It’s always nice to get a division win, but yet again Baltimore nearly squandered a game it was up double-digits in. They’ve been up double-digits in all 7 games this season, but are still just 4-3. At minimum, the defense is starting to round out and play better. Tough one coming up in Tampa on a short week.
9. Cowboys (12) - The defense continues to look nearly as good as any in the league, and credit to the coaching staff for sticking to the ground game in Dak’s return. They are still 3rd in the NFC East despite the 5-2 record. Things should come down to earth soon enough.
10. Titans (14) - I think this team is flying under the radar a bit since that loss to the Bills. They haven’t dropped a game since, winning 4 straight and taking back control of the division with a 2-game sweep of the Colts in the process. Divisional road games are tough, so they need to avoid a letdown spot down in Houston this weekend.
11. Giants (16) - They may be the worst 6-1 team in NFL history, but they keep finding ways to win close games. Another winnable game is on deck, with the G-Men traveling to the Pacific Northwest to take on an upstart Seahawks team coming off a big win. Who thought this would be such a big game at this point in the season?
12. Jets (17) - The year of the Big Apple continues, with the Jets nearly keeping pace with the Giants at 5-2. The draft picks are clearly paying off, and the Jets defense looks better week by week. Zach Wilson has helped keep the ship steady, despite being pretty limited as a thrower. They will have a pissed off Patriots team coming to town, where they haven’t looked as good as when they’ve been on the road.
13. Bucs (8) - There is not much to say about what happened in Charlotte. That may have been one of the worst performances by a perceived “good” team that I’ve seen in a while. Brady doesn’t look awful, but he’s not showing much spark. A putrid offensive line isn’t helping. They’re in the mix because of the ineptitude of their division. That’s basically it. They have a lot of work to do.
14. Patriots (10) - Even with the “flukey” conditions, this team had a pretty atrocious performance to fall to 3-4 after gaining some momentum the previous couple weeks. I’m not sure what to make of the QB situation, though it looks like there’s a real controversy there. They have to come in with more energy against the Jets, whom they’ve had a lot of success against.
15. Packers (11) - This offense really sucks. Three straight losses to non-elite teams (sorry Giants, Jets, and Commanders). They haven’t been able to generate much in any of these. They gotta commit more to running the rock and playing solid defense. Rodgers might need to take the happy drug before visiting Orchard Park Sunday night.
16. Dolphins (18) - It was ugly, but the Fins got the job done against a Steelers team that was appearing to gain a little momentum. Tua looked OK in his return, which is good enough to be a significant upgrade over the other options. Now they go to Detroit, which could be a great opportunity to get to 5-3.
17. Chargers (13) - I am being generous leaving them here. Injuries can only be an excuse for so long. This team is a mess, and Herbert has not looked good these past couple of games. They need the bye not only to get healthy, but to also do some soul-searching. 4-3 against the easiest schedule in the league ain’t gonna cut it.
18. Raiders (19) - The Raiders look to be getting things back on track. Having Jacobs be so productive makes a huge difference for their all-around offense. They need to keep feeding him…makes life for Carr much easier. They visit a reeling Saints team this week, so they have a chance to keep the run going.
19. Cardinals (21) - Having DeAndre Hopkings definitely made Murray look more comfortable. The defense made some big plays, which were much needed since they lacked them leading up to this one, but they looked pretty leaky in the game as well. Tough trip to Minnesota on deck, but I think they can hang there.
20. Colts (15) - Pretty disappointing showing in Nashville and tough to absorb a sweep from the division rival. They are still in it because of the weak division, but they need to stop shooting themselves in the foot. Looks like they will try Ehlinger, which is questionable but not completely unwarranted. They get the Commanders at home, which will provide a good opportunity for them.
21. Seahawks (23) - This team keeps the momentum going with a big win on the road in LA. The offense has continued to be productive, and is getting more balanced. More impressively, the defense continues to improve week-to-week. The red-hot Giants come to town in what is surprisingly a big time match-up in terms of NFC playoff implications.
22. Falcons (20) - Atlanta finally came down to earth a bit in the Queen City, when Joe Burrow annihilated them. That was a bad match-up for them, but still a disheartening performance. Still, the division is doing them a bunch of favors. They are tied atop the standings thanks to the Bucs reeling a bit. Carolina at home provides them an opportunity to get back to .500 right away.
23. Steelers (22) - This team fought hard after a big win against Tampa. Pickett is showing signs, but too many mistakes against a decent team on the road and you’re gonna have a hard time winning. The team is showing some life offensively, but again the turnovers are really what did them in. Going on the road to Philly is probably not going to go well, but you never know.
24. Commanders (28) - Pretty nice win for the Commanders, who got some nice plays from Heinicke in Wentz’s absence. The offense is far from fixed, but nice to see this team reel off a couple wins and play itself into the wild card picture in a bad conference.
25. Bears (29) - Hell of a showing by Da Bears in Foxboro on MNF. Fields seems to be showing signs of progression each and every week, which is great if you’re a Bears fan. They’re not as bad as people think. They have Dallas on the road this week, which will be tough, but I think they can battle there.
26. Browns (25) - They fought a bit harder in this one, but reality is they just kinda suck lol. Maybe more than kinda. The defense has been especially disappointing, so acting like DeShaun Watson returning is going to fix this is a reach. They got the hot Bengals coming to town on MNF.
27. Saints (24) - Yikes. This team not only has a QB room disaster, but they also have an atrocious defense to pair with it. What a disappointing unit that’s been. Still, they’re only 1 game out because of their division. They have a rolling Raiders team coming to town, so that’ll be a tough task for them.
28. Panthers (31) - Heck of a win for Carolina at home – definitely the shocker of the week around the league. Their defense has been playing solid, and PJ Walker finally showed some competency for them at the QB position. They’re still pretty bad, but a good moment for them. And hey, they’re only 1 game out! Divisional game in Atlanta this week.
29. Jaguars (26) - Disappointing loss for the Jags at home, these guys are reeling. Kind of crazy they are +18 in point margin despite being 2-5. Now they go over across the pond to London, where it’s usually a home game for them, against a bad Denver team. Opportunity to get some things right.
30. Lions (27) - They are easily one of the most disappointing teams in the league this year. Not only has their defense continued to struggle, but their offense has been completely lackluster as well. Think Campbell has lost the locker room a bit. Miami at home is winnable, but don’t like this team’s chances against anyone right now.
31. Texans (30) - Houston’s defense finally got exposed a bit in Vegas. The lack of talent on that side of the ball was really on display in this loss. Like I’ve said many weeks, I think they will continue to fight week after week. But it might be tough to stay competitive as the losses mount. They have a hot Titans team coming to town this week.
32. Broncos (32) - They were competitive, but yet another lackluster showing by the offense in this one. They just look lost out there, with or without Russ. Now they go to London to play a pissed off Jags teams, who basically will enjoy home field across the pond. Good luck.
