|
Change
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Team
|
W-L-T
(ATS)
|
Power Rating
|
Team Comments
|
| 1 |
1 |
 |
 |
8-3-0
(7-4-0)
|
-7.5 |
New England
We know how good this offense is. The really scary thing for opposing teams is that the Patriots have scored five touchdowns on defense and special teams in their last two games. |
| 2 |
3 |
 1 |
 |
8-2-1
(7-4-0)
|
-7.0 |
San Francisco
Any lingering questions about the 49es defense were answered on Sunday ? Drew Brees doesn't throw two pick sixes in the same game very often. |
| 3 |
2 |
 1 |
 |
8-3-0
(6-5-0)
|
-6.5 |
Denver
Will we continue to see the same intensity level from the Broncos down the stretch? They've got a four game lead in their division with only five games remaining. |
| 4 |
5 |
1 |
 |
10-1-0
(7-4-0)
|
-6.0 |
Houston
The once-sluggish Texans offense has come on like a freight train of late: 77 points and more than 1,100 total yards in their last two ballgames. |
| 5 |
6 |
1 |
 |
10-1-0
(6-4-1)
|
-5.0 |
Atlanta
After eking out yet another tight win at Tampa Bay, the Falcons have now notched seven of their last nine wins by a touchdown or less. |
| 6 |
8 |
2 |
 |
7-4-0
(5-5-1)
|
-5.0 |
N.Y. Giants
The defending champs suffered through a miserable 1-5 midseason stretch last year but rebounded to win the Super Bowl. Could they do it again in 2012? |
| 7 |
7 |
|
 |
9-2-0
(5-5-1)
|
-4.5 |
Baltimore
The Ravens have been masterful (or lucky) at pulling out tight wins all season, winning each of their last six games decided by a field goal or less. |
| 8 |
4 |
4 |
 |
7-4-0
(5-6-0)
|
-4.5 |
Green Bay
Since the start of the 2010 season, the Packers have lost only two games by more than a touchdown. The Giants were on the winning end of both of those blowouts. |
| 9 |
13 |
4 |
 |
8-3-0
(6-5-0)
|
-2.5 |
Chicago
Jay Cutler is healthy again, but the Bears lost a whopping five starters to injury in their win over Minnesota and just placed starting guard Lance Louis on injured reserve. |
| 10 |
9 |
1 |
 |
6-5-0
(7-4-0)
|
-2.5 |
Seattle
A roughing-the-passing penalty on Earl Thomas negated a late Ryan Tannehill interception, setting the stage for their potential playoff-dooming loss at Miami. |
| 11 |
16 |
5 |
 |
6-5-0
(5-5-1)
|
-1.5 |
Cincinnati
Cincy is feasting on the weak, annihilating lowly Kansas City and Oakland over the past two weeks by a combined 62-16 margin. Up next? Another AFC West matchup at San Diego. |
| 12 |
11 |
1 |
 |
5-6-0
(6-5-0)
|
-1.0 |
New Orleans
The silver lining in last week's home loss to San Fran? The Saints' record-setting streak of allowing 400-plus yards in every game finally came to an end. |
| 13 |
12 |
1 |
 |
6-5-0
(8-2-1)
|
-1.0 |
Tampa Bay
All five Bucs losses this year have come by a touchdown or less - a massive turnaround from last year when Tampa lost each of its last five games by 16 points or more. |
| 14 |
15 |
1 |
 |
6-5-0
(4-6-1)
|
0.0 |
Pittsburgh
Should I downgrade the Steelers for committing eight turnovers in a single game, or should I give them credit for still being in position to win the game after the first seven? |
| 15 |
17 |
2 |
 |
5-6-0
(6-5-0)
|
0.0 |
Washington
The stage is set for a late season playoff run. The Redskins get their two toughest opponents at home, then face three struggling teams with losing records to close out the regular season. |
| 16 |
10 |
6 |
 |
5-6-0
(4-7-0)
|
1.0 |
Dallas
Last week I wrote this: "I think this No. 10 ranking is definitely too high for Dallas." This week, the Cowboys are ranked in a more appropriate spot. |
| 17 |
14 |
3 |
 |
4-7-0
(5-6-0)
|
1.0 |
Detroit
Three straight losses, 0-4 in division and a nose tackle that can't stop kicking opposing players in the groin ? this Lions season has turned south in a hurry. |
| 18 |
19 |
1 |
 |
7-4-0
(7-4-0)
|
1.0 |
Indianapolis
The #Chuckstrong hashtag has real meaning for this Colts team at home. Extra emotion supporting Coach Pagano has sparked his squad to a 5-1 SU and ATS mark in Indy. |
| 19 |
21 |
2 |
 |
5-6-0
(5-6-0)
|
1.5 |
Miami
Defensive tackles Paul Soliai and Randy Starks blew up the line of scrimmage last week, holding Seahawks back Marshawn Lynch to a season low 2.4 yards per carry. |
| 20 |
18 |
2 |
 |
4-7-0
(5-6-0)
|
2.5 |
San Diego
If you can't stop an opposing team from getting a first down on fourth and 29 checkdown pass to the running back, you don't deserve to be a head coach any more. Buh-bye, Norv. |
| 21 |
20 |
1 |
 |
4-7-0
(5-6-0)
|
3.5 |
Buffalo
Wiseguys spent the summer pounding the Bills Over their season win total, bet up to 8 by August. At 4-7, the Bills don't look likely to cash those sharp money bets. |
| 22 |
24 |
2 |
 |
3-8-0
(6-4-1)
|
3.5 |
Cleveland
Don't get too excited about that win over Pittsburgh. The Browns punted on each of their last five drives, and were in position to lose a game where their defense forced eight turnovers. |
| 23 |
22 |
1 |
 |
6-5-0
(4-6-1)
|
3.5 |
Minnesota
The Vikings' passing game woes continue. In their loss at Chicago last Sunday, Minnesota averaged 5.7 yards per running play compared to only 3.2 yards per passing play. |
| 24 |
25 |
1 |
 |
4-6-1
(7-4-0)
|
3.5 |
St. Louis
After not creating a single turnover for five straight games, the Rams defense picked off four passes last week, two returned for TDs. It sure helps to face a rookie QB making his first start. |
| 25 |
26 |
1 |
 |
3-8-0
(5-6-0)
|
4.0 |
Carolina
Can Ron Rivera do anything right? He cut kicker Justin Medlock last week, then watched his replacement shank an extra point, keeping the Eagles alive on Monday Night. |
| 26 |
23 |
3 |
 |
4-7-0
(6-5-0)
|
4.5 |
N.Y. Jets
It doesn't seem possible given all the negative press and bad losses that the Jets have suffered, but New York has actually been a money winner for their backers against the spread this year. |
| 27 |
27 |
|
 |
4-7-0
(4-7-0)
|
5.5 |
Tennessee
In eight games started by Jake Locker over the past two seasons, the Titans are just 2-6 SU and ATS. With Matt Hasselbeck behind center, they've won 11 of 19 in SU fashion. |
| 28 |
28 |
|
 |
4-7-0
(4-6-1)
|
6.0 |
Arizona
What happens when you couple a mistake-prone offense, lousy OL play and lousy QB play with a defense that can't stop the run? A seven-game losing streak? |
| 29 |
29 |
|
 |
3-8-0
(1-9-1)
|
6.0 |
Philadelphia
The Eagles defense created four turnovers in their one-point opening day win at Cleveland. In the 10 games since that win, the entire defense has a grand total of three takeaways. |
| 30 |
31 |
1 |
 |
2-9-0
(6-5-0)
|
6.5 |
Jacksonville
In eight quarters of football since replacing Blaine Gabbert as the starter, Chad Henne has thrown for more than 600 yards with six TDs - an absolute difference maker. |
| 31 |
30 |
1 |
 |
3-8-0
(3-8-0)
|
7.5 |
Oakland
One more indictment of this miserable Raiders defense? They allowed not just one, but the two longest runs of plodding back BenJarvus Green-Ellis' five-year career at Cincy Sunday. |
| 32 |
32 |
|
 |
1-10-0
(4-7-0)
|
8.0 |
Kansas City
I'm plagiarizing this from a Bill Simmons column on ESPN.com, because it was so damn funny (and true). What do I write about the hapless Chiefs? Booo! Booooooo! BOOOOOO! |
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Power Ratings compute offensive and defensive statistics into one number for each team, while accounting for factors like recent performances and strength of schedule. Power Ratings can be used as a baseline for relative spread index to compare current or future match-ups between two teams. The relative spread does not account for non-statistical factors like home-field advantage, recent injuries, game time decisions, rivalries, publicity, and weather.