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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) - 88.884
Once again the Saints found themselves in a difficult situation, this time at the hands of the Rams. As you can see, the Saints are still undefeated and still atop the Power Rankings for the third consecutive week, but their time there may be limited if they continue to let teams stick around with them. It's almost as if they play down to their opponents level, and that will not get it done in the Playoffs.
2. Indianapolis Colts (LW: 2) - 87.607
They escaped defeat at the hands of the Patriots due to a questionable call by Bill Belichik late in the game, that gave Peyton the chance to hit Reggie Wayne for the game winner. Still one of two undefeated teams left in the NFL, and they are depleted in the secondary. Once they have the chance to get healthy, this team will compete late in January.
3. Minnesota Vikings (LW: 3) - 75.330
I guess Favre isn't too old. He is silencing all his critics week after week, and I'm all for it. Favre is a legend in this league, and it will be a sad day when he finally calls it quits. Sidney Rice has emerged as a huge threat thanks to Brett, and the defense is daunting. The only weakness on this team, as I see it, is Adrian Peterson's fumbling problem. He had two this week, which didn't cost them much against the Lions, but a good team will make them pay.
4. Cincinnati Bengals (LW: 5) - 68.822
A completely different team once Carson Palmer is on the field. They've completed the sweep of the Pittsburgh Steelers and are currently sitting at 5-0 in the division with a game remaining against Cleveland which should result in the division sweep. Cedric Benson is a little banged up, but the team has signed Larry Johnson to help take some of the pressure away. The Bengals are for real folks.
5. San Diego Chargers (LW: 11) - 58.492
After a slow start, the Chargers are rolling winning four out of their last five games, including a win last week over one the NFC's best teams in Philadelphia. They are currently tied with the Broncos for the AFC West, and that tie will be broken this week when the two teams collide. There is no questioning the talent on this team, but there is questioning the coaching and preparation.
6. Arizona Cardinals (LW: 10) - 58.048
Hard to argue with results, and that's what the Cardinals are giving us. They've won four out of the last five and are winners on the road, going undefeated away from Glendale this season. After a slow start to the year, Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner are starting to hit a stride and that is one combination that you don't want to see on the field in a rythm.
7. New England Patriots (LW: 4) - 57.796
One thing I never thought I would say is that Bill Belichik was the reasoning for a Patriot loss. Well, that's exactly what happened Sunday night when Belichik decided to go for it on his own 30 yard line costing the Patriots the game. It's one thing in Colts territory, but not on your own 30 yard line. He sent the message that he doens't trust his defense, and a collapse by the defense the rest of this season will not surprise me.
8. Dallas Cowboys (LW: 7) - 56.851
After defeating a division rival, the Cowboys follow up that performance with an embarassing loss to the Green Bay Packers. This team is very inconsistent, but still sits atop the NFC East and could further that lead this Sunday when they take on the Washington Redskins. They need to accrue as many wins as possible, because December is approaching quickly, and we all know how that goes.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers (LW: 6) - 55.850
Fresh off a sweep at the hands of division rival Cincinnati, the Steelers are still in prime position for the post-season. The Steelers do have bigger problems heading into the next stretch of games, and that's the health of all-pro safety, Troy Polamalu. Polamalu re-aggrivated the knee injury he suffered in the beginning of the year and missed most of Sunday's game. The Steeler's defense is a different unit with Troy in the line-up, and they need him healthy if they want to make noise come playoff time.
10. Denver Broncos (LW: 8) - 51.847
"Uh-oh" or "Not again!" can accurately describe the feeling of fans in Denver. After a 6-0 start, the Broncos have dropped three staright and find themselves tied with the Chargers for the division. As we can all remember, the Broncos late-season collapse that gave the Chargers the division last season, and it seems like we're headed for some deja-vu in 2009.
11. Green Bay Packers (LW: 14) - 48.657
12. Philadelphia Eagles (LW: 9) - 44.837
13. Baltimore Ravens (LW: 17) - 43.342
14. Houston Texans (LW: 13) - 42.829
15. New York Giants (LW: 15) - 40.653
16. Jacksonville Jaguars (LW: 19) - 38.998
17. Miami Dolphins (LW: 18) - 38.666
18. Carolina Panthers (LW: 22) - 35.602
19. Atlanta Falcons (LW: 12) - 34.875
20. San Francisco 49ers (LW: 21) - 32.228
21. New York Jets (LW: 16) - 29.776
22. Chicago Bears (LW: 20) - 27.288
23. Tennessee Titans (LW: 25) - 22.303
24. Seattle Seahawks (LW: 23) - 21.797
25. Buffalo Bills (LW: 24) - 17.490
26. Washington Redskins (LW: 26) - 14.232
27. Kansas City Chiefs (LW: 28) - 12.215
28. Oakland Raiders (LW: 27) - 1.469
29. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (LW: 29) - (-4.237)
30. St. Louis Rams (LW: 30) - (-6.307)
31. Cleveland Browns (LW: 31) - (-8.850)
32. Detroit Lions (LW: 32) - (-10.115)
