Let the NFL Playoffs begin!

As you may have noticed, I did not do a week 16 power ranking. This is because when so much of the playoffs are set teams rest their players and often lose games they wouldn't normally lose. As I grade my power rankings based on the results of the games the next week it would have been impossible to grade a week 16 power ranking. I hope you understand.

However, now that the NFL regular season is over, I've taken a look at my NFL preview post and here are the results of how I did:

Here are the standings for each division. Those teams in bold are the ones that I had selected before the season began:

NFC
Division Winners
Dallas Cowboys (Bye)
Green Bay Packers (Bye)
Seattle Seahawks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Wild Card Teams
New York Giants
Washington Redskins

AFC
Division Winners
New England Patriots (Bye)
Indianapolis Colts (Bye)
San Diego Chargers
Pittsburgh Steelers
Wild Card Teams
Jacksonville Jaguars
Tennessee Titans

If I award one point for each division winner, one point for correctly awarding the bye week, one point for each wild card team, and one point for correct division to provide a wild card team then there would be 20 possible points. I would have earned 8 points. That's 40%. Not too terrible.

here's how I stand in regards to my original playoff predictions: Both of my Super Bowl teams are still alive. Three of my four Conference teams still have a chance. Five of my eight Division teams are in the playoffs. But I only have two of the Wild Card Weekend teams in the playoffs. If I award 5 points for a Super Bowl team, 3 points for a conference championship team, 2 points for a division team and 1 point for a wild card weekend team, there would be 46 possible points. I'd have 31. That's 67%. Much better!

So, with the Wild Card weekend teams set, here's how I see the playoffs playing out:

NFC

Wild Card Weekend
NYG @ TB winner TB
WASH @ SEA winner WASH

Division
WASH @ DAL winner DAL
TB @ GB winner GB

Conference
GB @ DAL winner DAL

AFC

Wild Card Weekend
JAX @ PITT winner JAX
TN @ SD winner SD

Division
JAX @ NE winner NE
SD @ INDY winner SD

Conference
SD @ NE winner NE

Super Bowl

DAL vs NE

winner
NE

And here is a brief power ranking for the 12 teams in the playoffs:

New England

Until they are defeated, they stay #1.

Dallas

Their loss to Washington won't happen again. This year, the 'Boys have proven they know how to win!

San Diego

What a winning streak! You look like the SD of old. Where were you for the first 10 games of the season?

Indianapolis

Their second string almost defeated the Titans. This team just won't go away.

Jacksonville

When asked what team they fear the most, Jacksonville received the second most votes. They'd be good enough to be a division winner if they played in the North or West!

Green Bay

That loss to Chicago looked BAD! It was a cold weather game ~ Your speciality. How do you expect to win in Dallas?

Pittsburgh

You've limped into the playoffs going 2-3 for your last 5. Unlucky draw getting Jacksonville first.

Tampa Bay

I'd rather see Minnesota in the playoffs than you. You're lucky that you drew the Playoff inept Giants in the first round.

New York Giants

Your performance against the Pats was impressive! Can you carry that momentum into the post season? I just don't see Eli playing to flawless games in a row, sorry.

Washington

Another team that doesn't belong here. Yeah you won four in a row to make it, but it's also because the Vikings couldn't close it out. Very lucky that you drew Seattle, they're the only NFC team you can beat.

Seattle

It's one thing when Brady and Co. decide not to run the ball, it's another thing entirely when it's Hasselbeck Inc. Try playing in another division and you aren't even a wild card team.

Tennessee

Yet another team that shouldn't be here. It's unfortunate that Cleveland choked against Cinci. You could barely beat the Colt's B-team. It doesn't matter who you play, you are one and done.

The rankings will continue until the Super Bowl!

Who has the Right to faith...the Left?

Once again, the left exposes their double standards and their true feelings towards honest faith. Presidential candidate I <3 Huckabee recently put out a Christmas "political" ad in which he basically apologizes for the number of political ads that have run this season and wishes viewers a merry Christmas season. In this ad there is a bookcase in the background that could possibly resemble a cross. Horror of horrors! Not only that, but he wishes people a "Merry Christmas" and references Jesus Christ as the reason for the holiday. Shame on him!

At the outrage announced by those who oppose such public displays of faith, I'd like to pose two questions. First, Huckabee (who is a minister! Should we really be surprised?) comes right out and says that the reason for Christmas is the birth of Christ. It's not implied, it's not suggested, it is explicit! However, the ire from those who like to find reasons to be offended have not mentioned this comment. Rather, their biggest beef is with the fact that the bookcase in the back is lit in such a way that it looks like a cross. (Better not have Hillary in front of any windows. You never know with those pesky panes...) So, my question is this: Why is the birth of Jesus so much less offensive than His death on the cross? The complaint is about the image of the cross, not the mention of Christ's birth. Perhaps people don't realize that He had to be born before He could die...

My second question is, perhaps, more to the point of this post. During this election season, the left has attempted to convince the common voter that they are just as religious as the next (conservative) candidate. Time magazine dedicated seven pages to the faith of the Liberal '08 Presidential candidates (and only the Liberal '08 Presidential candidates). They listed, among other things, their favorite hymns (75% of which were Amazing Grace (could that be because it's the only one they know?)) and favorite Bible verses (75% percent of which were John 3:16 (see previous parenthetical comment)). Yet here is a conservative candidate expressing the very same belief system that the liberals are claiming to possess ~ and he's getting slammed for it. I must have missed the memo that stated that once the left used a political strategy, the right was henceforth forbidden from employing it (even though said strategy was originated by the right.) How seriously are we expected to take the Democrats if while, on one hand, their candidates are expressing their deeply held religious convictions, and on the other they are decrying a Republican candidate because he does the same? (Isn't this the same party that likes to remove the nativity scenes from local greens?) What if the right attempted to gain votes by using the left's strategy of instilling false fear due to Global Warming and then denounced the left for actually using that same time-tested scheme? Wouldn't we be hearing about the two-faced-ness of the right? I've been listening to people complain about this "advertisement" (which is not an ad at all, simply a "season's greetings" after which he had to say that he "approved the message") for about a week now, yet I have not heard anyone mention the fact that the left is also proclaiming their faith in 2008.

It drives me a little crazy that the liberals of this country get to talk about of both sides of their mouths and no one blinks, yet anytime there even appears to be hypocrisy from the right it's the leading story on every news program.

So, the three questions (two that I've discussed above and another thrown in for good measure) that I seem unable to resolve in my head are:

Exactly what is so offensive about a child born in a stable to a young poor couple displaced by a government-required journey 2000 years ago?

Why is His cruel death as an innocent person hung on a tree between two thieves so much more offensive than his humble beginnings?

Finally, why is the left so upset about a conservative candidate not hiding his faith when they are claiming to believe the same message as him?

Anyone? Anyone? Beuller?

NFL Power Rankings Week 15

The post season is really taking shape now. There are six teams that advance to the dance in the NFL. Please feel free to not the two playoff bound teams that do not have the honor of being on Just My Opinion:Just the Facts. Also note that they are both division leaders. (You may further wish to note that one of them is leading a division from which zero players were selected for the Pro Bowl. Not one man from a team in the NFC South will be in Hawaii!) With out further ado (or further noting) here are this weeks Power Rankings:

1)New England (13-0) Last week: 1

It seems that the weather may be conspiring to prevent Brady from overtaking some of the records he's chasing this year. With the inclimate climate in Foxboro the Pats had to go to the ground to beat the Jets 20-10. That leaves Brady with needing over 330 passing yards per game to hold the single season passing record for yardage, and at least 2 TD Passes per game (both to Randy so he can break Rice's record) to have his name next to the single season TD Passing record over Peyton. This and the pursuit of perfection should be enough to keep the Pats playing hard (as though Belichick would allow anything else) as they cruise into the post season. Final Foes: 1-13 Miami and 9-5 Giants. You should go 2-0. That's what most of us are hoping for. Whether we like the Pats or not, we want to see history being made. (if the Jets really wanted to hurt NE, they should have waited until this week to claim spying. That way we'd look back and question the whole season rather than the first game. Because they were caught week one, we can assume they've accomplished this feat without the use of any extra cameras on the sidelines. Don Shula thinks there should be an asterisk by this season because of "spy-gate." Of course he does! He was the coach of the '72 Dolphins!)

2)Green Bay (12-2) Last week: 3

Football fans say the NFL is more exciting because every game counts. Few things could prove that more true than last weeks match-ups. With a huge loss by Dallas there is a slight glimpse of hope that the 'Boys may have to head to GB for the playoffs! If Dallas loses either of the two games remaining and you don't, it's yours! And a 33-14 win over STL is some pretty good momentum. Final foes: 5-9 Chicago & 6-8 Detroit

3)Dallas (12-2) Last week: 2

A crushing defeat! Not only was it a loss, but it was to your division rival Eagles! TO must have been livid to lose to his former team! It was ugly, too. You didn't have the weather to contend with like Pitt/Jax, NE/NYJ, or Buff/Cleve. Just Tony's new girlfriend. Some say it was because your new flame Jessica Simpson was in the stadium that you played so terribly. They cite the fact that you played awful the last time a gal pal came to watch when Carrie Underwood was in the luxury boxes... Word of wisdom, tell them to watch it on your wide-screen plasma HD TV, they can see you better there anyway! You've got a playoff berth, but you're fighting for that number 1 spot in the NFC. Final Foes: 6-8 Carolina & 7-7 Washington

4)Indianapolis (12-2) Last week: 4

Well, you locked up the #2 seed in the AFC with a 21-14 win over Oakland. I'm not sure what's happening with your team. The score was 10-3 for most of the game and Oakland isn't very good. In fact, at one point they were leading 14-13 late in the game! Having to come from behind against the Raiders is no way to start the playoffs. Looks like you may be missing Harrison more than we first thought. Final Foes: 7-7 Houston & 8-6 Tennessee

5)Jacksonville (10-4) Last week: 5

JMO:JTF is proud of the call they made regarding your game. Pittsburgh had been undefeated at home this year at 7-0. You were reeling from the INDY loss and Pitt had something to prove after losing to NE. Yet, JMO:JTF was among the few that said that you, the underdog, was going to upset the big bad Steelers on their home turf, and you did! It was a close game, but you came out on top and those are the ones that are key to win! Finish strong and carry some of that fire into the hunt for the Bowl! Final Foes: 4-10 Oakland & 7-7 Houston

6)Minnesota (8-6) Last week: 6

While I expected you to send the Bears into early hibernation, they nearly chased you back to Greenland! You managed to pull out a win but made far too many mistakes that really would have burned you against a playoff caliber team. While the win keeps you in the hunt for the last playoff spot in the NFC, you've got some other teams itching to see you falter. You face one next week as you line up against your Final Foes: 7-7 Washington & 6-8 Denver

7)San Diego (9-5) Last week: 8

51 points! It's an accomplishment to score over 40. 51! This is the SD we wanted to see all year! A potent LT, a high scoring offense, and a string of wins in a row! You're headed to the post season and let's hope you get farther this year than last. I dunno though, your previous coach did amazing in the regular season, then lost in the playoffs. Does that mean you new coach will do just the opposite? Final Foes: 6-8 Denver & 4-10 Oakland

8)Pittsburgh (9-5) Last week: 7

What came as a surprise to many was not one to JMO:JTF. With the Pro Bowl selections out and some of your key players being snubbed, maybe this will be bulletin board material to get them to play harder. Cleveland is breathing down your neck trying to take the division from you. You can hold them off if you win out, but they are playing like the Browns of old. Don't look back, they're right behind you! Final Foes: 3-11 St. Louis & 4-10 Baltimore

9)Cleveland (9-5) Last week: 10

As professionals, you hate having to play in that kind of weather. As a non-professional, I wish I could've bundled up and played an all out smash-yer-face-into-the-snow game of tackle football with my friends in a blizzard like that! An impressive win 8-0 over Buffalo. A kicker who aims 25 feet to the left of the uprights only to have the wind curve it back in and hit the support bar again! The way you've been playing, I would not want to face you in these last two weeks. The post season may be different due to the lack of playoff experience on your team. But right now you are entertaining, playing great, and almost in the playoffs for the first time in years! Final Foes: 5-9 Cincinnati & 4-10 San Fransisco

10)New York Giants (9-5) Last week: 9

Here comes the end of the year slide. It was quite surprising to see you lose 22-10 to Washington. You'll need some better luck in the future... I'd tell you to break a leg, but you've already got that covered! Shockey, Petitgout, Kiwanuka, and Ward all out with fractures or breaks to their fibula (one of the two bones that connects the knee to the ankle). These are four major keys to victory for you. One would almost think you could weather losing Manning better than those four! You haven't yet secured a post season slot. You have to win one more. Better do it this week because the week after isn't looking too good! Final Foes: 7-7 Buffalo & 14-0 New England

Off: No one. While the Giants have lost some consistent contributors, I'd like to see what they can do against before they are removed entirely from the list. Besides, who would join the rankings in their place? TB? no. Seattle? uh-huh. TN? Absolutely not.

I saw the most pitiful spectacle this week. Miami beat Baltimore in overtime to win their first game of the season. They certainly should have lost this game. Had Baltimore gone for the win in the closing seconds rather than the tie, that would most likely have ended it. Baltimore got the ball first in OT and missed a game winning field goal. Then, inexplicably, the Raven safeties decided to take a lunch break as the Dolphins ran a short slant across the middle designed to gain 5-7 yards that went for 64 yards, a TD, and the end of their pursuit of pestilence. The sad part (besides their actually winning) was the celebration they held in the end zone following the touchdown. You'd think they just won the Super Bowl, the Rose Bowl, or perhaps even some minor really long sponsored illogically named bowl (the Sunshine State Firestone Snow Tires Rogain Mary Kay Bowl). Or perhaps some major milestone was achieve as a team (the 1000 win for example). Nope, they are now 1-13 and they are celebrating because they are still mathematically capable of 3-13. It almost brings a tear to one's eye...

Non-Sports!

Ok, I've taken some time to post about non-sports things. Even though the Mitchel report is out (listing 83 MLB Players who have taken performance enhancing drugs) I'm going to stick to purely non-sports material. Here's the table of contents: The Writer's Strike, I Am Legend, Politics, ending with I'm not making this up

Writer's Strike: I think this is ridiculous! I really don't think the leaders of the Writer's Union thought this one out. I've been attempting to hold my tongue on this situation, but it's gone on too long for me to keep quiet any longer. First question: Why would the studios give in? What do they have to lose? Reality TV is just as big as it ever was with new shows debuting daily! (Clash of the Choirs, Crowned: the mother of all pageants, and The Next Great American Band to name a few) Let's not forget the barrage of game shows that are invading our homes! (Duel, Don't forget the lyrics, Singing Bee, and that true-or-no-money show) All this strike is doing is forcing the studios and producers to invent newer and dumber ways to make shows that don't require writers. The TV stations are running repeats and garnering about 80% of their regular audience so it's not hurting them too badly. Second question: What are they striking for? Internet and on demand airings of their show! They want to be paid for each one! How does this make any sense? I can log onto NBC.com and view an episode of the Office for free, so where do the writers think the studios are going to get the money to pay them for the viewing? Are they going to start charging for each access? Guess what, they're gonna have a lot fewer people accessing their shows! As I expected certain writers are "making deals" with their individual shows so they can start making some money again. This strike will have no effect on how this new medium is handled. And if the writers truly wanted to make a point, their signs should have been blank.

Movie review I Am Legend: I'd like to begin by saying that I'm glad I learned a few more details about this movie before I actually saw it. Had I not been alerted to this massive portion of the story I'd have felt completely misled, duped, and hoodwinked. The previews in absolutely no way inform the potential audience member what this movie is about. All we know is that it's Cast Away in New York City where the part of Tom Hanks is played by Will Smith and the part of Wilson is played by a dog. I Am Legend is actually supposed to be a suspenseful scary movie. But, like most modern scary films, every scare was cheap, with a sudden visual and loud noise. There were no clever reveals, no dramatic irony, no intelligent scary moments. I shouldn't expect anything more from a director whose only made music videos and the Keanu Reeves film Constantine. Before I begin with the spoilers, if you don't mind not actually knowing what a movie is about and enjoy stories that are too slow at times and don't take full advantage of each opportunity, then go see I Am Legend. Otherwise, wait for the DVD. OK CAUTION: THE FOLLOWING CONTAINS SPOILERS. Here's what I'm SO glad I found out: This is a Vampire movie! You read that correctly! The cure for cancer causes a sickness that becomes airborne and kills 95% of humanity. Of those that survive, 1% were immune, the other 4% illicit symptoms that resemble vampires: high susceptibility to UV light, aggression, hunger for blood. Will Smith was immune and is attempting to discover a cure. While the previews are misleading, the direction lacking, and the story contrived, the message is somewhat redeeming. If I so desired, I could uncover several Christian themes. There is a disease that seems to effect all of mankind. It takes one who is immune to it to spill his own blood to rescue everyone. Also, there was some discussion regarding God's hand in the catastrophe. The most memorable line referencing that is Will's when he says, "God didn't do this, we did this." True regarding sin as well. Lots of CGI, some philosophical moments, decent acting in the confines of a disappointing story. 2 stars out of 5. I say catch a matinee or wait for the DVD, don't drop a Hamilton on this one.

Politics: Joe Lieberman (D) just endorsed John McCain (R) for president. He didn't endorse a fellow Democrat, he didn't even endorse his Connecticut comrade Christopher Dodd (D)! Is the Democratic party leaving their moderate members in the dust? If McCain doesn't win the nomination, will Lieberman return to his side of the aisle and endorse the Blue State candidate? I hope not. Perhaps this is just payback for the Democratic party supporting his opponent as he ran for re-election. Lieberman lost in the primaries and was forced to run as an independent. When he won, he promptly changed back to the Democratic party so they'd retain their narrow margin in the Senate. Looks like someone hasn't forgotten... I love politics, it's so much like junior high it makes my face break out.

I'm not making this up: A doctor in NY who donated sperm to a lesbian colleague, so that she and her partner could have children, has been ordered to pay child support. Did I mention the boy is now 18 and headed off to college? The doctor admits that for the first few years of the boy's life he sent gifts and cards signing them "Dad." However, before he was a teenager, the boy's moms took him out of state. Since the move, the doctor has spoken to him about once every other year on the phone and has not sent any gifts or cards. This is nothing more than a despicable attempt to legally extort money from a man who did something he thought was a good deed. If you truly needed the money, why didn't you take this action 15 years ago? Why did you wait until at least 7 years after he stopped sending the cards? Is he taking the position away from someone else? There are two women raising this boy, is one of them his dad? What judge thought this was a good idea?! There are two lessons in this: 1) Always get it in writing! It was agreed verbally that the doctor would have no responcibility in raising the child, but he has no proof of that. 2) I have to agree with the doctor's lawyer when she said, "I guess it's true, no good deed goes unpunished!" (The articles that I've read list only one woman, I wonder where the other one is...) Just in case you are wondering, this isn't the only account of such preseedings. A court in Washington ruled that a donor is not liable for child support unless they signed something accepting some sort of responcibility. However, a court in Pennsylvania ruled that a man was responsible finacially because he purchase a gift for the child born due to his donation. And the situation that is most infuriating is that of a lesbian couple in the UK. They had a child with a donor, then they separated. Now the woman who has custody of the child is seeking child payments from the donor. Not the woman who had agreed to be a parent to this child, no no, that would make too much sense! Do we see the messes we create when we try to play god?

Any thoughts from my readers? Feel free to disagree, after all, these are just my opinion.

NFL Power Rankings Week 14

The playoff picture is shaping up as several teams have already clinched their divisions. A few remain undecided and the wild card teams are hoping that they get to go to the big dance! Here's how the teams currently sit on the Just My Opinion:Just the Facts Power Rankings:

1)New England (13-0) Last week: 1

14-13 at the half. A Brady to Moss to Brady to Gaffney bomb to start the second half and you never looked back! Your fans must have enjoyed watching you return to the form they've grown accustomed to this season. Two slam dunks with division "rivals" Miami and New York up next. Then a trip to the Meadow Lands as the New York Giants remain the final hurdle on your journey to the perfect season. I think 13-0 is an ok time to start seriously considering that it may actually happen! Brady needs 5 more TD passes to surpass Mannings single season record and Moss needs to catch 4 of them to surpass Rices record. Watch for both to happen against the Jets as they experience the payback for "Spy-gate!"

2)Dallas (12-1) Last week: 2

WOW! 18 seconds left when you took the lead! This win was solely due to the ineptitude of the Detroit Coaching staff! They gave you too much time at the end of the first half, as you scored during the final minute, and then they let you do it again in the final seconds of the second half, on a play that any Dallas fan with eyes knew was coming: Romo to Witten up the left seam! The only reason you don't drop is because of the thumping you gave GB last week! The good teams win late, but that was pushing it!

3)Green Bay (11-2) Last week: 3

Another powerful win as you clinch your division! 38-7 vs the Oakland Recliners is a bit more than expected. Perhaps you shouldn't have been running up the score like that. Good momentum, though... You've gotta keep your team focused as you head into 3 weeks of relatively meaningless games.

4)Indianapolis (11-2) Last week: 4

Wow, talk about piling it on! 30-0 before the end of the first half! Baltimore must have used all they had in their attempt to defeat the best team in the NFL last week and had nothing to offer the Colts. They looked pretty bad out there. With the first round bye basically in the bag, you too have to find a way to motivate your players, especially as you face your upcoming daunting opponents. With contests against such foes as Oakland and Houston, I really don't expect you to lose again. (Which means you'll probably drop the final game of the season to TN at home. You usually surprise everyone by doing things like that!

5)Jacksonville (9-4) Last week: 5

You made quite a rebound! Although, taking your aggression out on CAR for the whuppin' you got from Indy doesn't make up for the loss. Right now you are the front runner for a WC spot, but you have to keep winning to stay there! Even though you do face Oakland (It seems like everyone on the list has the benefit of playing them as the season winds down) you also have to over come Pittsburgh and Houston at home. They just beat TB so don't count that one before the final horn!

6)Minnesota (7-6) Last week: 6

You proved that you belong this high in the rankings by squaring the 49ers 27-7! You have a four game winning streak, you've taken over the second WC spot in the NFC, and in the last 3 games, you've out-scored your opponent 110-34! You may only be 7-6 but you are a force to be reckoned with and I would not want to face you at this point in the season!

7)Pittsburgh (9-4) Last week: 7

Don't feel bad. No one really expected you to win. And if your safety Anthony Smith hadn't guaranteed it, no one really would have noticed that you didn't. I saw him get beat deep twice! Which means he probably gave up another play or two that I missed. You better focus more on playing and less on talking as you have Jacksonville and Baltimore yet to overcome if you want to keep your lead in the division over the Cleveland Browns!

8)San Diego (8-5) Last week: off

Welcome back! You haven't visited us since you were removed having lost to Jacksonville the week after you defeated Indy! However, after looking at your schedule and the games you've won, and after noticing that you are on a 3 game winning streak, and after realizing that though Seattle has a better record, they have a much weaker schedule, JMO:JTF has decided to have you back on! You really ought to finish out 2-1 with Detroit Denver and Oakland up next. Looks like though you started 1-3 that you just might be headed to the post season!

9)New York Giants (9-4) Last week: 8

Squeaked by the Eagles. You haven't yet locked down that place in the playoffs and there are a lot of hungry NFC teams waiting to take your reservations! Division foe Washington would love to be a spoiler and Buffalo has been a hit or miss team this year. You don't know which Bills team you are going to face! You can just count the final game against the Pats as a loss right now! is 11-5 enough?

10)Cleveland (8-5) Last week: 10

The Jets could have won this week. Lucky for you they stuck to their plan of consistently finding a way to lose! With Buffalo, Cinci, and SF as your final showdowns, it's difficult to say for certain that you are in. You nearly have to win out. Can you do it?

Off: Tampa Bay. I give you some props by putting you up to 9th spot and you make me regret it by losing to Houston! Not just Houston, but a hurt Houston without their starting QB or RB! You were the only team that prevented JMO:JTF from having a perfect week! With the ease of your remaining schedule, even if you win out, I don't expect to see you back on this list until we start talking about the playoffs.

And Miami remains winless! Only Baltimore, New England and Cinci remain. Looks like they've one real chance left, the same week the Pats play for perfection!

NFL Power Rankings Week 13

Oh my! I thought that I had posted this but there it sat in "draft" status (just like Marcus Vick) on my blog. Terribly sorry! Well, to end the suspence, here is what Just My Opinion: Just The Facts said before all of this week's games were played:

1)New England (12-0) Last week: 1

Two weeks of mortality! Is this just a "Market correction?" No better time to do it than against teams that shouldn't beat you to begin with! Of course, you can't afford to play that way against Pittsburgh. Well, maybe you can, they fell a notch or two this week anyway. Win this week and only the Giants stand the way of perfection!

2)Dallas (11-1) Last week: 2

No problem against Green Bay! I never doubted it. I didn't see it, but I never doubted it. Even though 3 of your last 4 are on the road, facing a spiralling Detroit and an up-again-down-again Philly, and a bottom of the pack 'Skins team, you should have a good chance of going 15-1. Carolina looks to be the only real opponent you have left. 15-1... What a year to do that! only to be over shadowed by a 16-0 Pats and an 0-16 Dolphins!

3)Green Bay (10-2) Last week: 3

Tough to win when you lose an MVP candidate. Though surprising sucess from his back-up! You also have a rose-garden stroll into the post season: Oakland, at St. Louis, at Chicago, and Detriot at home. Your only two losses could be to the only two teams that have been above you on this ranking the entire season! That says quite a bit about you as a team (and just a little about me as a judge of NFL power...)

4)Indianapolis (10-2) Last week: 5

I'm just going to start every description of you with "False start, Offense, #18, 5 yard penalty, repeat the down." until someone actually calls the rule! Ok, so I was wrong. You handled the Jags relatively easily. It'll be interesting to see how you manage in the post season this year. My calculations give you a first round bye, but you know how much you hate coming into Foxboro in the winter. Hey Peyton, I have your Super Bowl tickets here. Do you want the 50 yd line or luxury box?

5)Jacksonville (8-4) Last week: 4

Come on! You are built specifically to defeat your divisional rival! When was the last time you did it?! Was it while Dungy was coaching in Tampa Bay? Or while Peyton was playing PeeWee football?! You've got a good chance at a wild card spot and if you make it past the Chargers (the team you'd likely play) you'll have another shot at Indy (Providing Cleveland defeats Pittsburgh. Which is possible, we'll get a preview after Pitt losses to Brady, Moss, and Co.

6)Minnesota (6-6) Last week: off

To debut at number 6 on the chart means I've missed something! Your late season surge is paramount to that of the Rockies or Phillies of the MLB (More the Rockies though, as the Phillies "surge" required a Mets "self destruct" whereas yours requires no other team to lose.) You shrunk the Giants and dismantled Detroit! Winners of three in a row and on your way to the playoffs! Where did you come from (and don't say Scandinavia!)?

7)Pittsburgh (9-3) Last week: 6

If you had been playing any other team besides the Bungles (save Miami) you would not have won that game! Wille Parker put the ball on the ground 7 seven times! Twice recovered by the Steelers, once incorrectly overturned by official review, and four times turned over. What did the men in the orange jumpsuits do with it? NOTHING! Lost to the Jets? Won 3-0 over Miami? I don't expect this team to give NE a hard time, though there are many who think the streak ends next week. I'm pretty sure New England will be 13-0 when they face the Dolphins and Jets in weeks 14 and 15.

8)New York Giants (8-4) Last week: 8

Proving once again why there are only three NFC teams above you on the list, you easily handled Chicago. I don't expect too much trouble from division rival Philly this week as they've been stumbling recently. Looks like a wild card spot for you, can you over-come last year's unfortunate finish against Seattle? Or will it be one and done?

9)Tampa Bay (8-4) Last week: 10

Talk about sneaking under the radar. You haven't even done anything amazing except win and take the division. Let's see what you can do now that you are under the microscope of some JMO: JTF scrutiny

10)Cleveland (7-5) Last week: 9

You lost to Arizona! Normally, that's grounds for banishment from the list, but no one else did anything worthy of addition. That and I've been impressed with your recent victories. Keep it up and you may see post season play!

Off: Detriot. You've lost four in a row! And you're facing Dallas next week, that doesn't look too promising! You nearly had me believing that Kitna could bring you into the playoffs... I feel silly.

And Miami remains winless! With Buffalo, Baltimore, New England and Cinci left. They better win this week or their last chance is against the Bungles!

ok, so, again, sorry it's so late. Next weeks rankings will be up in a day or so