NFL Rankings - 7 Nov

The Atlanta Falcons are still undefeated, but are still a long way from proving they are the best team. Several other teams, with only a loss or two on their records, have been playing incredibly well lately, and a couple of them will face off this week on Sunday Night Football, when the Bears and Texans get together. While neither is currently #1, a decisive victory by either one should be enough to put them there. Here are my current rankings, with teams grouped by similar levels of performance and ESPN's Power Rankings in parentheses.

TW. (LW) Team (Record) Result (ESPN)
1. (2) San Francisco (6-2) BYE (4)
2. (7) Chicago (7-1) W (3)

3. (4) New England (5-3) BYE (9)
4. (3) Denver (5-3) W (8)
5. (1) Houston (7-1) W (2)

6. (5) NY Giants (6-3) L (5)
7. (6) Atlanta (8-0) W (1)

8. (9) Tampa Bay (4-4) W (13)
9. (8) Green Bay (6-3) W (6)

10. (11) Seattle (5-4) W (12)
11. (12) Pittsburgh (5-3) W (10)

12. (13) Dallas (3-5) L (18)
13. (14) Carolina (2-6) W (29)

14. (10) Miami (4-4) L (15)
15. (16) Detroit (4-4) W (14)

16. (15) Baltimore (6-2) W (7)

17. (20) New Orleans (3-5) W (22)
18. (18) San Diego (4-4) W (17)

19. (19) Minnesota (5-4) L (16)
20. (17) Washington (3-6) L (19)
21. (21) Cincinnati (3-5) L (23)
22. (22) Arizona (4-5) L (20)

23. (23) NY Jets (3-5) BYE (25)

24. (28) Indianapolis (5-3) W (11)
25. (24) Philadelphia (3-5) L (21)
26. (25) Oakland (3-5) L (26)
27. (27) Saint Louis (3-5) BYE (24)

28. (26) Cleveland (2-7) L (30)

29. (30) Buffalo (3-5) L (28)

30. (29) Jacksonville (1-7) L (31)

31. (31) Tennessee (3-6) L (27)

32. (32) Kansas City (1-7) L (32)

After 4 straight close losses to potential playoff teams, the Carolina Panthers finally broke through with a victory, taking down the Redskins on the road for their second win of the season. They are still ranked far above what their record would indicate, and they could surprise one of their next two opponents, Denver and Tampa Bay, who are coming to town the next two weeks.

The Indianapolis Colts are 5-3 and in prime position to make the playoffs, but they are ranked much lower in my rankings than on ESPN. If you look at their last month of work, you'll see exactly why. Their only loss during that period was a blowout loss to the New York Jets, who have not been the same team we've gotten used to over the past few years. Two of their wins were close games against Cleveland and Tennessee, both bottom-feeders that everybody beats, and the other was against Miami, which was impressive enough to finally move them out of my bottom 5, but they certainly don't belong just outside the top 10.

The Baltimore Ravens are another team that is ranked much higher by the experts, but haven't done anything to deserve it. In the past 5 weeks, they have won close games against 4 subpar teams, and been blown out by the only potential playoff team they've faced. Baltimore may be better than what they're showing on the field, but they need to show it if they want to earn my respect.

Dallas has had one of the toughest schedules in the league so far, facing 7 teams that will likely make the playoffs in 8 weeks, which explains their poor record. Their schedule gets much easier the rest of the way, with only 1 team over .500 remaining, so they may end up making the playoffs anyway.

Predictions

Upset picks are in italics.

Thursday

Indianapolis at Jacksonville - Colts by 1

Sunday

NY Giants at Cincinnati - Giants by 8
Tennessee at Miami - Dolphins by 19
Detroit at Minnesota - Lions by 1
Buffalo at New England - Patriots by 23
Atlanta at New Orleans - Falcons by 5
San Diego at Tampa Bay - Buccaneers by 11
Denver at Carolina - Broncos by 4
Oakland at Baltimore - Ravens by 10
NY Jets at Seattle - Seahawks by 12
Dallas at Philadelphia - Cowboys by 6
Saint Louis at San Francisco - 49ers by 22
Houston at Chicago - Bears by 5

Monday

Kansas City at Pittsburgh - Steelers by 23

Prediction Results

NFL: 11-3 (.786) 80-52 overall (.606)
Upsets: 3-1 (.750) 12-12 overall (.500)
NBA: 3-0 (1.000) 32-19 overall (.627)
Upsets: 1-0 (1.000) 5-4 overall (.556)

NBA Predictions

Phoenix at Charlotte - Suns by 12
Washington at Boston - Celtics by 6
Indiana at Atlanta - Hawks by 11
Brooklyn at Miami - Heat by 13
Memphis at Milwaukee - Grizzlies by 1
Philadelphia at New Orleans - Hornets by 15
Denver at Houston - Rockets by 8
Orlando at Minnesota - Magic by 5
Toronto at Dallas - Mavericks by 20
LA Lakers at Utah - Jazz by 12
Detroit at Sacramento - Kings by 14
San Antonio at LA Clippers - Spurs by 16
Cleveland at Golden State - Warriors by 1