Peter Childs is an oddsmaker for Belmont.com.
The top 4 remain the same. The Cardinals coming off their 6th win in they’re last 7 have moved into the top 5 and looked poised to take a run at the Vikings for the second seed in the NFC.
1. New Orleans Saints - Saints had been winning, but not covering games of late. They were 0-3 vs. the spread until their dominating win over the Bucs. They got down 7-0 vs. the Bucs, then rolled off 38 unanswered points and coasted to an easy 38-7 win. Up next for the Saints, a great Monday Night matchup vs. the Patriots.
2. Indianapolis Colts - Colts have won their last 2 games by a combined 3 points. Talk about knowing how to win the close ones, this team most definitely does.
3. Minnesota Vikings - Since losing to the Steelers on the road, the Vikings have won 3 straight games by an average of 18.3 points a game. This team is playing exceptional football and QB Brett Favre has been perfect and is the highest rated QB in the NFL.
4. New England Patriots - Pats did exactly what we've expected from this team over the years, avoiding losing back to back games for the first time since 2006 and avoiding getting swept for the first time since 2001. Obviously, this team is over the 4th and 2 fiasco.
5. Arizona Cardinals - This Cardinal team has quietly won 6 of their last 7 games. They travel to Tennessee to take on the red hot Titans team that has won 4 straight. After their trip to Tennessee the Cardinals play the Vikings at home in a game that could prove pivotal in the race for the #2 seed in the NFC. It was just announced that the Vikings vs. Cards game will be "flexed" and played on Sunday Night Football on NBC.
6. San Diego Chargers - Chargers are rolling and have taken firm control of the AFC West. They hold a 1 game lead and the only other contender in their division, the Broncos, are struggling mightily. Chargers have all but locked up a playoff spot and are tied with the Patriots and Bengals for 2nd place in the AFC.
7. Cincinnati Bengals - The Bengals took a major step backwards with their loss to the Raiders. With the Steelers losing earlier in the day, the Bengals could have put a strangle-hold on the AFC North, but instead of building on their recent success the Bengals reverted back to the Bungles.
8. Philadelphia Eagles - Eagles did everything they could to lose the game at Chicago last week, but they got the road win and now face a very banged up Redskins team. The NFC East is completely up for grabs, but I don't think the winner of this division will be a factor in the playoffs.
9. Pittsburgh Steelers - Steelers are all of a sudden in some real trouble. Losers of their last two games and losing outright as an 11 point favorite to a very bad Chiefs team is going to cost this team dearly. They not only lost the game, but they might have lost QB Ben Roethlisberger for a game or two due to a concussion.
10. Dallas Cowboys - After scoring 37, 38 and 20 points in their previous 3 games, the Cowboys have only scored a total of 14 points in their last 2 games. This team is just too inconsistent to take seriously.
11. New York Giants - Giants have given up back to back 4th quarter and last minute comebacks in their last 2 games. The only difference last week; is that they were able to win the game in overtime after giving up a 14 point fourth quarter lead. This team lacks a killer instinct.
12. Green Bay Packers - Packers won the game vs. 49ers last week, but lost two starting defensive players who will be dearly missed. OLB Aaron Kampman and CB Al Harris are both out for the rest of the season. The Packers are in prime position to win a Wild Card spot. They're 6-4 and currently tied with the Giants and Eagles, and with the NFC East beating up on each other, the Packers have the easier path for one of the two Wild Card spots.
13. Baltimore Ravens - The Ravens have to feel absolutely sick after losing that game to the Colts last week. They settled for 5 field goals, they missed a field goal and threw an interception with less than 3 minutes remaining when they were in easy field goal range. It was a game they easily could have won, and should have won. With the Steelers and Bengals both losing, the Ravens would have found themselves right back in playoff contention. Instead, they're 5-5 and will be life and death to make the playoffs this year.
14. Denver Broncos - The Broncos were the talk of the league just a month ago, now they're all but finished and losers of 4 straight. They play Thanksgiving night at home vs. the Giants in what turns out to be a must win game for both teams.
15. Atlanta Falcons - Falcons rallied big time last week to force overtime, but once they lost the coin toss they pretty much lost the game. Their defense has been awful of late and they couldn't stop the Giants all game and weren't about to in overtime. Falcons are 5-5 and all but finished for a playoff spot.
16. Jacksonville Jaguars - The Jags have won their last 3 games in a row by a combined 8 points. They're 6-4 and find themselves in playoff contention. They travel to San Francisco this week to take on the 49ers, after that game they play 3 straight at home.
17. Tennessee Titans - QB Vince Young looked unbelievable on Monday night and it leads to really one question, what the hell took so long to bring him in as you’re starting QB? The Titans are 4-0 since inserting Young as the starter and Young, combined with RB Chris Johnson, make up the most exciting backfield in the NFL.
18. Miami Dolphins - The Dolphins got a big win that put them at .500 for the season. But I don't think this team can compete week in and week out without RB Ronnie Brown. They take on the Bills this week, after that their schedule is rather difficult with games vs. the Pats, Jags, the red hot Titans, the Texans and Steelers. The chips are stacked against the Dolphins making the playoffs for the second straight year.
19. Houston Texans - I'm sorry, but head coach Gary Kubiak absolutely made the wrong call when he had his QB take a dive with 8 seconds left in the game to set up a 49 yard field goal. Gary, you've got a veteran QB, one of the best WR's in the game, and a time out. How can you not at least try one pass to gain 8 or 10 yards and shorten that field goal? I just don't understand that call at all.
20. San Francisco 49ers - After starting the season 2-0 and 3-1, this 49ers team has struggled big time. They've lost 5 of their last 6 and it continues to be a work in progress situation in San Fran.
21. Carolina Panthers - Panthers’ loss last Thursday night to the Dolphins at home all but ends their season. They're 4-6 and trail several teams for a Wild Card spot.
22. New York Jets - Jets are pretty much a joke. Head coach Rex Ryan crying when he addressed his team last week. Pathetic. QB Mark Sanchez has thrown 6 INT’s in his last 2 games. Pathetic. The coach and QB were the talk of the league after their 3-0 start, now I can't help but laugh at how awful they've been of late. Other than their one win vs. a 3 win Raiders team, the Jets have lost 6 games in a row. Time to look toward 2010.
23. Chicago Bears - Bears are simply gross on offense and QB Jay Cutler couldn't be playing any worse. Two weeks ago he threw 5 INT's in a game that the Bears only loss by 4 points. Last week he missed several wide open receivers which easily could have gone for TDs. After starting the season 3-1, they've gone 1-5 and their one win came against the god awful Browns. Up next for the Bears, a travel date with the red hot Vikings.
24. Seattle Seahawks - Seahawks are now 7-19 in the past 2 years and I would go so far as to say no team has been hit by injuries in the past 2 seasons harder than the Seahawks. It will be interesting to see what they do this offseason. Is it time to rip this team apart and start rebuilding, or do they take what they have, including QB Matt Hasselbeck, and try to make another run with the current personnel?
25. Kansas City Chiefs - Chiefs got their 3rd win of the season and arguably the biggest upset of the 2009 NFL season last week over the Steelers. The Chiefs win over the Steelers was the first time they've won back to back games since October 21st, 2007. But things don't get any easier for the Chiefs, who travel to San Diego to take on a Charger team that crushed the Chiefs 37-7 in Kansas City less than a month ago.
26. Washington Redskins - The Redskins have been ravaged with injuries on the offensive line, on defense and now at running back. RB Clinton Portis has missed the last 2 games due to a concussion, and is expected to miss this week. His back up, LaDell Betts was hurt last game and is out for the season. The Redskins find themselves at 3-7 and its time for this organization to start looking at 2010.
27. Oakland Raiders - The Raiders are off a win and will take on the Cowboys on Thanksgiving Thursday. The Raiders have struggled big time off wins, losing by 20 and 38 points following wins this season. Good luck this week in Dallas!
28. Buffalo Bills - Bills are in talks with Mike Shanahan for taking over the head coaching duties. That is the only exciting thing going on in Buffalo these days.
29. Detroit Lions - The Lions have to feel very fortunate after their come from behind win, but now they get to display their awful football on National TV on Thanksgiving Day without their starting QB. Matt Stafford is listed doubtful vs. the Packers.
30. St. Louis Rams - The Rams are playing better football and have been competitive vs. two good teams, the Saints and Cardinals. But just as they started playing better football, they now have lost their starting QB Marc Bulger for 3 to 6 weeks.
31. Tampa Bay Buccaneers - The Bucs at least led the Saints for a bit, before getting bush wacked and giving up 38 unanswered points to the Saints. The Bucs now face 4 road games in their last 6 games this season. They seem poised to grab the top pick in the NFL draft.
32. Cleveland Browns - The Browns loss to the Lions last week was a complete choke job on the team and coach Eric Mangini. This team and organization is beyond defunct.
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