Both teams that could clinch playoff berths on Sunday did so, with San Francisco getting the win necessary and Green Bay getting losses from its two nearest rivals to go along with its 12th win of the season. No other team can clinch until next week at best, but most likely not until there is one week left in the season, since no other team has a lead of more than two games in its division, and those division leaders all have significant weaknesses. Here are this week's fresh rankings, with gaps between groups of teams representing different levels of performance.
TW. Team (Record) Rating (LW)
1. Green Bay (12-0) -11.43 (1)
2. Houston (9-3) -10.25 (2)
3. New Orleans (9-3) -10.21 (4)
4. Baltimore (9-3) -9.69 (5)
5. New England (9-3) -9.17 (3)
6. San Francisco (10-2) -8.25 (6)
7. Pittsburgh (9-3) -7.77 (9)
8. Detroit (7-5) -5.20 (7)
9. Miami (4-8) -4.44 (11)
10. NY Jets (7-5) -3.65 (13)
11. Atlanta (7-5) -2.99 (12)
12. Chicago (7-5) -2.52 (8)
13. Dallas (7-5) -2.27 (10)
14. Tennessee (7-5) -1.06 (15)
15. San Diego (5-7) -0.52 (20)
16. Cincinnati (7-5) -0.17 (14)
17. Denver (7-5) 0.75 (18)
18. Seattle (5-7) 1.57 (25)
19. Oakland (7-5) 2.18 (17)
20. NY Giants (6-6) 2.19 (22)
21. Carolina (4-8) 2.29 (27)
22. Philadelphia (4-8) 2.37 (16)
23. Buffalo (5-7) 3.04 (19)
24. Arizona (5-7) 3.60 (28)
25. Washington (4-8) 4.72 (24)
26. Cleveland (4-8) 5.52 (26)
27. Jacksonville (3-9) 5.74 (21)
28. Minnesota (2-10) 6.26 (29)
29. Tampa Bay (4-8) 6.31 (23)
30. Kansas City (5-7) 7.10 (30
31. Saint Louis (2-10) 12.23 (31)
32. Indianapolis (0-12) 13.33 (32)
Teams of the Week
Kansas City, playing without starting quarterback Matt Cassell, beat the Chicago Bears, playing without starting quarterback Jay Cutler, and did it with only 10 points scored, including the first touchdown they have scored in the past three weeks. I'm still not sure how they pulled it off, or if it really means anything, but without their win Green Bay would not have their playoff berth yet.
Just about everybody had written off the San Diego Chargers after they had lost six straight games and put coach Norv Turner's job in jeopardy, but then they took the field against Jacksonville on Monday Night Football and looked like the Chargers we have been used to seeing for the past few years, and Philip Rivers finally had an interception-free game as San Diego destroyed the Jaguars 38-14.
Pittsburgh went into their game against Cincinnati this weekend hoping to keep pace with Baltimore in the division race and hoping to stay ahead of the surprising Bengals, who had given them a test three weeks earlier in Cincinnati, and they put on their best performance of the entire season, taking out the visitors 35-7 while only scoring in the second and third quarters.
Predictions
Upset picks are in italics.
Thursday
Cleveland at Pittsburgh - Steelers by 16
Saturday
Army vs. Navy - Midshipmen by 10
Sunday
Houston at Cincinnati - Texans by 7
Minnesota at Detroit - Lions by 14
New Orleans at Tennessee - Saints by 7
Philadelphia at Miami - Dolphins by 9
Kansas City at NY Jets - Jets by 13
New England at Washington - Patriots by 11
Atlanta at Carolina - Falcons by 3
Tampa Bay at Jacksonville - Jaguars by 3
Indianapolis at Baltimore - Ravens by 26
San Francisco at Arizona - 49ers by 9
Chicago at Denver - Bears by 1
Oakland at Green Bay - Packers by 16
Buffalo at San Diego - Chargers by 6
NY Giants at Dallas - Cowboys by 7
Monday
Saint Louis at Seattle - Seahawks by 13
Prediction Results
NFL: 11-5 (.688) 124-68 overall (.646)
Upsets: 1-1 (.500) 46-68 overall (.404)
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