Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware (32) celebrates a touchdown as quarterback Alex Smith (11) looks on during the fourth quarter against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Teams at the center of this week’s NFL power rankings are thankful for their second chance at a playoff run. The several teams once left for dead that have returned to contention reflect the other worldly league-wide parity being experienced right now. There are seven teams with a record of 7-3 or better. There are also seven teams with a record of 3-7 or worse. That leaves eighteen teams, more than half the league, mired in the middle of the pack somewhere between 4-6 and 6-4. And since twelve teams make the playoffs that means that somewhere among those eighteen teams we’re going to have five emerge to join the top seven. I’d venture to guess that this level of parity has never before been seen in the NFL.
After the Lions’ Week 3 loss to the Broncos, fans had already flushed the season down the drain. After all, only three teams had made the playoffs after an 0-3 start since 1990. Here are the early records for some of the eighteen teams vying for a playoff spot after Week 11:
Seattle (5-5): 2-4 after Week 6
Washington (4-6): 2-4 after Week 6
Houston (5-5): 1-4 after Week 5
New Orleans (4-6): 0-3 after Week 3; 1-4 after Week 5
Chicago (4-6): 0-3 after Week 3; 2-5 after Week 8
Kansas City (5-5): 1-5 after Week 6
This year is showing us that Week 3 is way too early to throw in the towel. Through six weeks, none of the above teams had more than two wins. Now, not all of these teams will make the playoffs. Maybe none of them will. But each of these teams that were left for dead by some, if not most, has a legitimate shot based on their remaining schedule to win their division or contend for one of their conference’s two wildcard spots.
It’s at a time like this that makes you wonder: if Detroit could have just held off San Diego in Week 1, or Calvin Johnson doesn’t fumble against Seattle in Week 4, or by some miracle, both of those things go Detroit’s way, maybe we’re talking about a 5-5 team right now and the potential wildcard implications for Thursday’s match up with the Eagles. While it’s almost certainly too late for the Lions this season, maybe Jim Caldwell was right about the negativity in Detroit. Fans in Kansas City, Seattle and Chicago might be able to shed some light on if things were as gloomy there as they were in Detroit just a month ago. Let’s be thankful that we get to watch our team every Thanksgiving and get to watch a couple other good match ups this year too. You’ll notice a special theme to this week’s power rankings. I listed what each team is thankful for but first, the week’s big movers.
This week’s biggest riser is Tampa Bay. The Buccaneers moved up nine spots from 24 to 15 after a 45-17 dismantling of Philadelphia en route to a 5-5 record. If you’re paying attention, that puts them squarely in the thick of the wildcard playoff race and they play the current wildcard Atlanta Falcons at home December 6th. Honorable mention to the Jacksonville Jaguars who moved up seven spots from 25 to 18 after winning their third game in the last four.
Our biggest drop this week was the St. Louis Rams who dropped their contest with the Baltimore Ravens because their coach left their quarterback in after his brain had been smashed into the ground. Good call coach. The Rams fell eight spots from 15 to 23. Dishonorable mention to the Eagles who fell six spots from 18 to 24 after being throttled by the Bucs.
That about does it for the big movers and shakers in this week’s NFL power rankings, so without further ado: