NFL Rankings - 14 Nov

Atlanta has finally been vanquished, and ESPN has finally recognized that they are not the best team. Houston and Chicago met up as the teams with the #2 and #3 records, with the potential of proving which team is the league's best hanging in the balance, and the defensive battle was won by Houston, who ascended to the top spot in ESPN's rankings. My rankings differ a little, however. Here are my full league rankings, with ESPN's Power Rankings in parentheses and teams grouped by similar level of performance.

TW. (LW) Team (Record) Result (ESPN)
1. (4) Denver (6-3) W (7)
2. (3) New England (6-3) W (8)
3. (5) Houston (8-1) W (1)
4. (2) Chicago (7-2) L (3)

5. (1) San Francisco (6-2-1) T (4)

6. (16) Baltimore (7-2) W (5)
7. (7) Atlanta (8-1) L (2)
8. (10) Seattle (6-4) W (12)
9. (9) Green Bay (6-3) BYE (6)

10. (12) Dallas (4-5) W (19)
11. (8) Tampa Bay (5-4) W (13)
12. (6) NY Giants (6-4) L (10)

13. (17) New Orleans (4-5) W (16)
14. (18) San Diego (4-5) L (20)
15. (11) Pittsburgh (6-3) W (9)
16. (21) Cincinnati (4-5) W (19)
17. (19) Minnesota (6-4) W (14)
18. (15) Detroit (4-5) L (17)

19. (13) Carolina (2-7) L (29)
20. (29) Buffalo (3-6) L (27)

21. (27) Saint Louis (3-5-1) T (23)
22. (22) Arizona (4-5) BYE (22)
23. (20) Washington (3-6) BYE (21)
24. (28) Cleveland (2-7) BYE (30)
25. (24) Indianapolis (6-3) W (11)
26. (31) Tennessee (4-6) W (25)

27. (23) NY Jets (3-6) L (26)
28. (25) Philadelphia (3-6) L (24)
29. (14) Miami (4-5) L (18)

30. (32) Kansas City (1-8) L (32)

31. (26) Oakland (3-6) L (28)

32. (30) Jacksonville (1-8) L (31)

The Baltimore Ravens must have read what I wrote about them last week, because they awakened with a vengeance against the Raiders, scoring 55 points and shutting down Oakland from the opening snap to the final whistle. Joe Flacco threw for 3 touchdowns and ran for another, and now the Ravens get to go up against their biggest rivals in Pittsburgh, who may be without Ben Roethlisberger, who is nursing sore ribs. This could be the turning point for Baltimore.

Denver has the most favorable remaining schedule of any team in the league, so their climb to #1 could be a sign of things to come. It would not be a surprise for the Broncos to finish the season 13-3 after starting 2-3, with a trip to Baltimore looming as the only real challenge left. If they do finish at the top of the league, could Peyton Manning win the Comeback Player of the Year and the MVP in the same year?

What a perfect time for the Giants to have a bye week. Coming off two straight losses against teams they should have handled easily, it's obvious that something needs to be fixed in New York, and it better happen during the week off, because they have to play the Green Bay Packers the following week, and you know that they won't be easy on the defending champs, not after they ended Green Bay's season a month earlier than expected last year.

Miami is also riding a little low this week, after the Tennessee Titans, pushovers for most of the season, manhandled the Dolphins in Miami, forcing 4 turnovers and scoring one defensive touchdown on an interception return that put the game at 21-0 early in the second quarter. At that point it was basically over already, but they still had to play the final 44 minutes before officially giving the victory to the Titans.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

Thursday

Miami at Buffalo - Bills by 9

Sunday

Arizona at Atlanta - Falcons by 13
Cleveland at Dallas - Cowboys by 12
Green Bay at Detroit - Packers by 2
Cincinnati at Kansas City - Bengals by 7
NY Jets at Saint Louis - Rams by 7
Philadelphia at Washington - Redskins by 7
Tampa Bay at Carolina - Buccaneers by 2
Jacksonville at Houston - Texans by 30
New Orleans at Oakland - Saints by 8
San Diego at Denver - Broncos by 16
Indianapolis at New England - Patriots by 22
Baltimore at Pittsburgh - Ravens by 3

Monday

Chicago at San Francisco - 49ers by 2

NBA

Detroit at Philadelphia - 76ers by 14
Utah at Boston - Jazz by 2
Indiana at Milwaukee - Bucks by 12
New Orleans at Houston - Rockets by 5
Memphis at Oklahoma City - Grizzlies by 8
Charlotte at Minnesota - Timberwolves by 11
Washington at Dallas - Mavericks by 15
Chicago at Phoenix - Bulls by 1
Miami at LA Clippers - Clippers by 4
Atlanta at Golden State - Hawks by 3

College Basketball

(22) Wisconsin at (10) Florida - Badgers by 1
UAB at (15) Creighton - Bluejays by 27
Santa Clara at Saint Louis - Billikens by 23
Toledo at Northern Iowa - Panthers by 24

Prediction Results

NFL: 8-5 (.615) 88-57 overall (.607)
Upsets: 0-1 (.000) 12-13 overall (.480)
NBA: 4-2 (.667) 70-37 overall (.654)
Upsets: 1-1 (.500) 13-10 overall (.565)
College Basketball: 12-3 (.800) 57-9 overall (.864)
Upsets: 1-0 (1.000) 3-4 overall (.429)