NFL Power Rankings Week 10: Chargers Exposed, Panthers Ascend
By Dean Holden
SLR’s Week 8 NFL Power Rankings: 24-17
Nov 3, 2013; Landover, MD, USA; Washington Redskins running back Alfred Morris (46) runs with the ball as San Diego Chargers free safety Eric Weddle (32) defends in overtime at FedEx Field. The Washington Redskins won 30-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
24. St. Louis Rams (3-6) ▼5
I like that they’re keeping it close each week, despite the long odds that Kellen Clemens at quarterback entails. But at some point, all that hard work has to result in winning. They’re just not quite there yet.
23. Buffalo Bills (3-6) ▼2
They played the Saints and Chiefs in consecutive weeks, and took them both to their limits. But the same thing applies to the Bills as the Rams: at some point you’ve got to win. Still think about this: they’re pushing teams with Thad Lewis and Jeff Tuel running the offense. It’s probably too late for them this year, but when they get E.J. Manuel back and add a few weapons, this team is going to be a force. They can run over anybody with Fred Jackson and C.J. Spiller.
22. Oakland Raiders (3-5) ▼2
Nick Foles just threw seven touchdown passes on you in about three quarters. Go home and rethink some things.
21. Baltimore Ravens (3-5) ▼3
Well, this is probably what everyone should have expected, considering the Ravens basically junked their Super Bowl team so they’d have enough money to pay Joe Flacco as much as they possibly could. That’s starting to look like a really, really bad idea. Even the defense isn’t (and shouldn’t be) scaring anyone.
20. Philadelphia Eagles (4-5) ▲5
I suppose this is the part where I’m supposed to buy into the Chip Kelly hype train again? Because I’m not going to do that. I’m taking a flier on Nick Foles, though. He posts these kinds of impressive performances too frequently to ignore. Anything that gets a team to move on from the perpetually overrated Michael Vick is fine in my book.
19. San Diego Chargers (4-4) ▼8
If you can’t gain a yard to win the game with three tries, you deserve to lose. If you can’t gain a yard because you pass twice instead of giving the ball to Ryan Mathews and telling him to pile in behind D.J. Fluker, you deserve to find a new playcaller.
18. Cleveland Browns (4-5) ▲5
You know this team is talented because Jason Campbell and Brian Hoyer have found success as starters there. They just won’t go away, but they can’t find consistency. Is it weird that the offense has played better since they traded away Trent Richardson? That trade really wasn’t part of a fire sale, was it?
17. Miami Dolphins (4-4) ▲5
That was a nice bounce back victory over a hot Bengals squad. It’s too bad Richie Incognito was there to ruin it with bad press, not to mention being an all-around bad person, apparently. I guess at least they won’t have to worry about that again.