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Here are the Power Rankings following play in Week Ten. This is the first installment. The power rankings are derived using a unique formula putting emphasis on all facets of the game with certain categories having more impact on your team than other categories. Division games are important, as well as winning on the road.The Formula = (Winning % X .31) + (Average Points For X .04) + (Net Points X .06) + (Home Win % X .06) + (Road Win % X .09) + (Division Win % X .13) + (Win % Last 5 X .24) + (Yards For X .02) + ((100-yards Against) X .05)
1. New Orleans Saints (LW: 1) - 91.256
For the fourth consecutive week, the Saints are the number one team in the power rankings. Tampa Bay took a seven point lead early, but didn't sniff points from there as the Saints rolled 38-7. If the Saints are going to lose, it will be this Sunday night against New England. This is the game that will make or break the Saints season. I could see a free fall if tehy find themselves on the losing end.
2. Indianapolis Colts (LW: 2) - 87.476
Just like the Saints, the Colts find themselves in close games, but always find a way to win. Peyton Manning is at the epicenter of that ability. Even with a banged-up secondary, the Colts are able to stop opponents just enough to allow Peyton to get the win. The Colts will need to get healthy as we enter the home stretch and the playoffs. A patch-work defense won't get it done in January.
3. Minnesota Vikings (LW: 3) - 77.960
Minnesota handled Seattle and was never really tested in the game. Despite the formula putting Minnesota at three, it is my belief that this is the best team in the NFL. Brett Favre is playing out of his mind with a four touchdown performance on Sunday, improving his stats to 21 touchdowns and three interceptions. Stellar stats for one of the best quarterbacks ever to play. The Vikings are a legitimate super bowl contender and will be a force as we enter the stretch.
4. San Diego Chargers (LW: 5) - 67.485
This is a team that came out of nowhere this season, again. They struggled last year, but got in the groove late to make a play-off push. Once again, they found themselves struggling early, but just put a pounding on division rival, Denver, to take sole possession of the division. The Chargers may be the most talented team in the league, but always seem ill-prepared. Maybe Norv Turner is changing his pregame preparations. Regardless of the reason, if San Diego keeps it up, we'll see another late playoff push.
5. New England Patriots (LW: 7) - 66.107
They let one get away from them two weeks ago against Indianapolis, but they came out nearly perfect against the Jets. Leigh Bodden picked off Mark Sanchez three times and if this defense can keep up a performance anywhere close to that, look out. We all know what this offense is capable of, but the defense was the achilles heel so to speak. We'll find out if this is the true defense, or a product of playing a rookie quarterback when they take on the undefeated Saints.
6. Arizona Cardinals (LW: 6) - 60.992
Arizona is a team that sort of sneaks up on you and catches you by surprise up here at number six, but can you argue with winning? I can't. My formula agrees. They could find themselves in some trouble when they saw starter, Kurt Warner, go down last Sunday. Matt Leinart came in and was unable to put the hapless Rams away. Add that to a questionable defense to begin with, and we could have trouble in Glendale. I have good news though. Kurt Warner had full participation in practice and is expected to start this week against the streaking Titans.
7. Dallas Cowboys (LW: 8) - 60.198
They showed up for about two minutes last week to score a late touchdown. Here's the good part about that. The Redskins were only able to muster up six points. This is their last game in November, and we all know of Dallas' struggles in December. The offense was non-existant the past two weeks, and were only able to pull out a victory due to the lack of an offense in Washington. That may come abck to hurt Dallas, but for the time being, they are still the division leader and are in good shape to make the playoffs. Just like last year.
8. Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 4) - 59.827
The Raiders strike again. Just as they did to the Philadelphia Eagles a few weeks back, the Raiders snuck up on another top team and pulled the upset. Bad news is that Cedric Benson did not practice yet this week, and may miss Sunday's game. Good news is that they play the Cleveland Browns as they go for the division sweep. They need this victory if they hope to make the playoffs. The Steelers and Ravens are right on their tails, and they need every game they can get.
9. Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 12) - 52.294
A close win against the Chicago Bears on Sunday night. They've struggled against the Bears, and struggled on Sunday night the past few years, but pulled one out late. They are desimated on defense, especially in the secondary, but their record still stands at 6-4 and still hold the 5th seed in the NFC at this point. They are scheduled to get Joselio Hanson back, Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are going to get healthy, along with the line backing corps, and this team could go on another late season run and could be a force in the playoffs.
10. Green Bay Packers (LW: 11) - 51.025
The Packers got some very bad news after their win over the San Francisco 49ers this past Sunday. They learned that two defensive starters, Al Harris and Aaron Kampman, will be out for at least this weeks game with knee injuries. They should still be able to pull out a win over the Detroit Lions, but the road to the playoffs has already begun and the Packers are on the bubble. They need all the breaks they can get, but they can't afford injuries.
11. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 9) - 48.172
12. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 16) - 45.611
13. New York Giants (LW: 15) - 42.595
14. Miami Dolphins (LW: 17) - 41.967
15. Baltimore Ravens (LW: 13) - 40.196
16. Houston Texans (LW: 14) - 39.076
17. Denver Broncos (LW: 10) - 37.541
18. Tennessee Titans (LW: 23) - 32.727
19. San Francisco 49ers (LW: 20) - 29.342
20. Carolina Panthers (LW: 18) - 28.455
21. Atlanta Falcons (LW 19) - 27.470
22. New York Jets (LW: 21) - 24.942
23. Chicago Bears (LW: 22) - 24.365
24. Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 27) - 20.192
25. Buffalo Bills (LW: 25) - 16.145
26. Seattle Seahawks (LW: 24) - 13.649
27. Washington Redskins (LW: 26) - 13.056
28. Oakland Raiders (LW: 28) - 9.906
29. Detroit Lions (LW: 32) - (-1.415)
30. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 29) - (-6.753)
31. St. Louis Rams (LW: 30) - (-7.425)
32. Cleveland Browns (LW: 31) - (-14.190)
