|
|
Team |
ITN-CB |
Rec |
WG |
RP |
Notes |
| 1 |
Panthers |
1.76 |
3-1 |
34.9 (2) |
44 (2) |
With a
third down conversion rate of 25% (29th) and 39 penalties (32nd)
this team is either scary good or headed for a grand collapse. |
| 2 |
Redskins |
1.36 |
3-1 |
29.9 (6) |
41.8 (4) |
That was
definitely an effective use of their offensive output against
Dallas. We were skeptical about this team's potential, and they
proved to us that they have plenty more to offer. If they
continue to outrush opponents by 40 yards a game and keep
improving upon their +6 turnover ratio, they will be the team to
beat in the NFC Beast. |
| 3 |
Bills |
1.32 |
4-0 |
34.7 (3) |
31.1 (7) |
Buffalo’s offense is 20th in rush yards,
12th in pass yards, but 8th in scoring.
On defense they are 17th in rush
yards, 6th in pass yards, but 5th in scoring. This is a team
that knows how to make the most of its opportunities. |
| 4 |
Buccaneers |
1.19 |
3-1 |
26 (7) |
44.4 (1) |
Rushing the football 41 times against
Green Bay was a big step forward for the offense. The next big
step is figuring out how to stop throwing interceptions. |
| 5 |
Giants |
1.04 |
3-0 |
32.9 (4) |
19.9 (12) |
Ok, so
let's get this straight. Defending champions beat Washington
already, are out rushing their opponents by over 70 yards a
game, and they aren't the team to beat in the NFC Beast? Yup,
that's right. Giants fans have to be loathing the lack of
respect by now. |
| 6 |
Cowboys |
0.92 |
3-1 |
22.5 (12) |
43.3 (3) |
We don't
care how good and flashy the offense is, if they don't improve
upon their -4 turnover ratio they aren't going to be winning any
titles. |
| 7 |
Titans |
0.89 |
4-0 |
36.6 (1) |
14.4 (18) |
They have
the largest margin of victory in the league and the number one
ranking by Win Grade right now, but are a 4-0 team that is
ranked 18th by Real Points. Until they get a quality win under
their belts the rankings will hold them back from the top spots. |
| 8 |
Broncos |
0.78 |
3-1 |
22.9 (11) |
38.3 (5) |
Eventually
the offense was going to miss a step and need the defense to
save them. We didn't think that it was going to happen against
Kansas City, but if it did we figured the Chiefs were the
perfect opponent for the D to gain some confidence. Not the case
by a long shot. |
| 9 |
Steelers |
0.75 |
3-1 |
31.3 (5) |
20.9 (16) |
Pittsburgh
joins the Patriots as the only other team to have a winning
record scoring fewer than 20 points a game. That is a formula
that will bite them on the road and eat their chances of winning
a division title. |
| 10 |
Patriots |
0.58 |
2-1 |
23.7 (8) |
23.3 (8) |
How great
can a bye be? The Patriots escaped the media spotlight for a
week, got a chance to really figure out what its game plan will
be on offense, and moved up 4 spots in the rankings. |
| 11 |
Chargers |
0.33 |
2-2 |
21.4 (15) |
28.1 (9) |
For once
they were on the right side of a late game comeback. If the pass
defense continues to struggle they are going to find themselves
needing a lot more 4th quarter heroics, which we don't think
they are capable of handling. |
| 12 |
Dolphins |
0.25 |
1-2 |
17.2 (23) |
25.3 (6) |
Like the
Patriots, the bye should have treated Miami well. The only thing
that they could complain about is the Bills and Jets both
winning. |
| 13 |
Eagles |
0.23 |
2-2 |
23.2 (10) |
21.3 (15) |
The saying
'football is a game of inches' can definitely be applied to
their loss at Chicago. Buckhalter and co. did a decent job
rushing the football, but we can't see Westbrook being denied
the end zone 3 straight times from the 1 yard line. |
| 14 |
Saints |
0.18 |
2-2 |
19.7 (19) |
26.8 (11) |
We'd love to tell you that this team has
an explosive enough passing game to be a contender in the NFC,
but they aren't. Sure they are capable of beating almost any
team, but they will continue to be very inconsistent without a
rushing attack or a solid defense. |
| 15 |
Cardinals |
0.15 |
2-2 |
19 (22) |
27.1 (10) |
A very
similar team to the Saints, but we actually think they have
better fundamentals and a better chance of winning their
division. However they will have to prove that all the turnovers
committed in the last two games were not the norm. |
| 16 |
Jets |
0.11 |
2-2 |
21 (16) |
22.3 (14) |
Despite
beating a 2-1 team by 22, the Jets didn't improve their ranking
any from last week. They are averaging only 3.8 yards per carry
on offense, with their longest carry being 16 yards. That is not
going to get them to the playoffs. |
| 17 |
Bears |
-0.01 |
2-2 |
20.9 (17) |
18.6 (17) |
The
goal-line stand was impressive, but we think Chicago got away
with one at home. They turned the ball over 4 times and
Philadelphia failed to take advantage, which is something the
Bears can't count on happening against future opponents. |
| 18 |
Vikings |
-0.19 |
1-3 |
15.1 (24) |
24.9 (13) |
Win grade
sees potential in Minnesota, and we have to agree. Frerotte
looked good driving the football late in that game, but the
turnovers ultimately killed their chance of a win. If they can
fix that the NFC North is still up for grabs. |
| 19 |
Ravens |
-0.29 |
2-1 |
23.4 (9) |
4 (24) |
Baltimore
is almost certainly better than 19th, but they are being held
back by their weak schedule. They just missed a huge opportunity
to defeat Pittsburgh, but there are plenty of more chances to
come for this team. |
| 20 |
49ers |
-0.37 |
2-2 |
20.8 (18) |
8.3 (21) |
One would
think playing in the NFC West would mean having a relatively
easy schedule. This is not the case for San Francisco. They are
a young and improving team, but we're not sure they can improve
fast enough to contend for a playoff spot. |
| 21 |
Packers |
-0.38 |
2-2 |
22.2 (13) |
5.1 (25) |
Green Bay has been out rushed in 3 of
their 4 games so far, and by a fair margin. The aerial attack
and defense is solid, but can't be counted on to overcome the 60
yards per game deficit being created by the running game. |
| 22 |
Falcons |
-0.46 |
2-2 |
22.1 (14) |
3 (26) |
Win Grade hasn't given up on Atlanta yet,
but wins at home against Kansas City and Detroit aren't
convincing anyone they are for real. |
| 23 |
Raiders |
-0.56 |
1-3 |
19.3 (21) |
5.5 (22) |
There is no question that Oakland has the
players to be a winning football team. The coaching staff has to
do better, and if that means Kiffin is gone, so be it. |
| 24 |
Jaguars |
-0.56 |
2-2 |
19.3 (20) |
5.4 (23) |
Their stats
hold nothing inspiring for us, and defeating a 0-2 team in
overtime at home isn't helping any either. |
| 25 |
Chiefs |
-0.73 |
1-3 |
13 (27) |
12.9 (19) |
The win was
a big surprise to us, and a nice surprise for the fans. The rush
defense is still a big concern, but on the other side of the
ball the rush attack might be something this team can build on. |
| 26 |
Colts |
-0.75 |
1-2 |
12.9 (28) |
9.4 (20) |
No one
wants to really believe Indianapolis is that bad this year.
Injuries aren't helping them any, but the numbers they have just
stink. |
| 27 |
Seahawks |
-1.06 |
1-2 |
14.5 (25) |
1.8 (27) |
Sure the
rush attack and defense looks solid on paper. But those numbers
are coming from playing spotty opponents. Their upcoming trip to
East Rutherford CC will show us where Seattle is really at. |
| 28 |
Browns |
-1.09 |
1-3 |
14 (26) |
1.6 (28) |
We're glad
they got the win last week. Much like the opening three weeks of
the season, the upcoming schedule is just brutal. |
| 29 |
Rams |
-1.36 |
0-4 |
3.5 (29) |
1.4 (29) |
Omigod! A
ranking where they aren't last! St. Louis fans you can send us
holiday cards to info@itnsports.com |
| 30 |
Texans |
-1.36 |
0-3 |
2.9 (30) |
1.2 (30) |
Outside of
their dismal run defense there is some hope for Houston. |
| 31 |
Bengals |
-1.36 |
0-4 |
2.6 (31) |
1.1 (31) |
Congratulations Cincinnati! You are the only team in the NFL to
be giving up fewer points than the league average and still not
have a win. |
| 32 |
Lions |
-1.36 |
0-3 |
2.3 (32) |
0.9 (32) |
A -6
turnover ratio, a -150 rushing yards per game margin, and an
-18 points per game scoring margin. We think they just won the
PGA Fedex Cup! |