KEEP YOUR HELMET ON AS WE ROLL OUT PART TWO OF THE STEELERS AND BROWNS WITH THE WEEK 13 POWER RANKINGS.
#1.BALTIMORE RAVENS 9-2 (SAME)
In his first ever Monday Night Game, Lamar Jackson was electric. 15-120-169 yards and 5 TD passes. Ran for 95 yards. Ravens with another route this time, LA Rams were last year’s NFC representative in the Superbowl. Since beating upon the Patriots. The Ravens have scored in the 40’s three games in a row. Rams they scored 45, Texans 41, and the Bengals 49. Mark Ingram had a big day, 111 yards on the ground with a rushing TD and caught a pass for a score. The Ravens defense is forgotten a lot with the way Lamar Jackson has been playing. It was Marcus Peters’ revenge game versus the Rams. He was traded from the Rams to the Ravens earlier in the season. He had an interception in this one. He was trash talking with his former teammates. At the end of the game he had a heated exchange with Jalen Ramsey who arrived from the Jaguars two weeks after Peters was shipped off to the Ravens.
Don’t care about trash talking on either side. Jalen Ramsey wanted to trade out of Jacksonville. He got it to the Rams a playoff team last year. Just shut up, Rams are not going anywhere just like how your old team is right now. He may not have been the cause of the problems but he will kill your team as he is an infectious disease that will rot your locker room. Has to be in the center of everything. He should have stopped Lamar Jackson and company, then he can be heard from.
#2.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 9-2 (SAME) Seahawks stay perfect on the road with a win in Philadelphia and are 6-0 as road warriors. They played an Eagle team without three starting receivers, running back and one of their offensive lineman. Seattle held the Eagles to three field goals. This without Jadeveon Clowney who has not recovered from that big 49er win.
Then Jarran Reed left in the first half of the game last Sunday. These are two key defensive players the Seahawks will need for the remainder of the stretch and obviously playoffs. Back up running back Rashaad Penny had a 58 yard rushing touchdown as he had a big day with 129 yards on the ground. Russell Wilson becomes the first ever quarterback in NFL history to have a winning record in first 8 seasons in the league.
#3.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 10-2 (SAME) Saints followed up their Tampa Bay Buccaneer win with a tough one versus the Panthers. Panthers tied the game up late. Saints reacted and drove down the field and Saints Kicker Wil Lutz hits a 33 year yard field goal for the game winner with no time remaining. Then the Saints traveled to Atlanta to face another division foe on Thanksgiving. Thursday night was the Taysom Hill show.
New Orleans’ version of the Swiss army knife. On special teams Taysom hill blocked a punt. He scored two touchdowns, one rushing and one receiving. After he blocked the blocked punt, he was the one who scored the touchdown on offense when Saints took over after the recovery. The Saints go 3-0 in the last three weeks off their own division and that is enough to clinch the NFC South as their first step is complete making it back to the playoffs. Now it has been three straight years that Saints have won their division.
#4.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 10-1 (SAME)
Foxborough is home of the Evil Empire Patriots and they are very hard to beat there. Cowboys came to visit and the Patriots defense held them without a touchdown for the first time this season. Cowboys come in as one of the best offenses in the game. That was the 18th straight regular season home win for the Patriots. Cowboys only managed three field goals. This season in New England it’s been all about their defense being able to take away their opponents best offensive weapons. Tom Brady had two receivers sidelined with injuries. Brady seems like a game manager more than anything. Patriots do a very nice job of running the ball. Many of the Greatest Patriot teams we’ve seen have been the total opposite. It was all about the Tom Brady.
#5.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 10-1 (SAME) San Francisco is playing the toughest part of their schedule in these next three meetings. The first one was the cheese heads. Green Bay, another California trip and they were absolutely grated by the 49er defense. Aaron Rodgers numbers in this one was very pathetic. Rodgers was 20-33-104 yards with an interception. This is 1.7 yards per pass play. Aaron Rodgers also fumbled the football. He failed 13 times on third down plays. On the end Jimmy Garoppolo was perfect. He went 14-20 for 252 yards and two touchdown passes. The 49ers passed their first test with flying colors. Next up is a very tough one versus the Ravens.
#6.MINNESOTA VIKINGS 8-3 (UP 1 SPOT) Viking were on their bye week with a chance to heal all their wounds. Recharge the batteries.
Stay focused on the prize. Plus the Vikings witnessed the Green Bay Packers getting creamed on Monday night in San Francisco. The rematch between Packers and Vikings might be for all of the marbles which will be coming up soon.
#7.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 7-4 (UP 1 SPOT) Not sure if the Chiefs thought anybody in their division was a threat.We know the Raiders have been making some noise. They were upended last Sunday by the Jets in an upset on the Chiefs’ bye week. Were the Raiders looking ahead? Chiefs facing the Raiders this Sunday could be the ticket to the division with a win. Chiefs find themselves a few games under the Ravens and Patriots for the top seeds. Right now the Texans and them would be fighting for the third seed. Andy Reid’s record coming off bye weeks is the best in the business. Chiefs’ biggest concern is that defense playing solid football every week. They have played a few good games so this unit is capable.
#8.HOUSTON TEXANS 7-4 (UP 1 SPOT) Right now Houston is in first place of their division. Deshaun Watson is still standing. They got wide receiver Will Fuller back last week from injury. They beat the Colts. However dark clouds are following the Texans.
This Sunday brings the arrival of the Evil Empire Patriots. A team that they have had problems with especially on the biggest stages. We remember what the other top AFC team did to the Texans not too long ago. The Ravens beat the snot out of a Texans team that felt pretty good coming in. Two questions for the Texans. Can they survive without JJ Watt being on the shelf once again for the whole season? Plus can that shaky offensive line keep Deshaun standing? Two things they need to get over or fix if they want to challenge and play with the big dogs.
#9.BUFFALO BILLS 9-3 (UP 1 SPOT) Last Sunday the Bills handled the Denver Broncos on their home field. Then they ventured off to Dallas and played on the grand stage on Thanksgiving Day of a short week. Buffalo made a statement as they dominated the Cowboys in a big statement game, showing that the Bills are not a slouch feasting off a easy schedule. They improved to 9-3 on the year. That is 5-1 on the road this season. You have to go back to 1966, the last time the road record was that good after six trips out of Buffalo. Through 12 games, nine wins is the most since that 1996 team, Jim Kelly’s final season in the NFL. Josh Allen was magnificent in this one. He mishandled a snap on 4th and short play. Was patient and did not panic as he scooped the ball up as everything was collapsing around him. Then he dived forward to get the first down. Josh Allen ran for a Touchdown. He had a good day passing. He was 19-24-231 passing yards with a touchdown pass. Cole Beasley former Cowboy and now Bill, had a big game versus his old team. He had six catches and 110 yards with a touchdown. The defense came to life after the Cowboys got on the board with an early touchdown. They shut down Ezekiel Elliot. Bills players even mocked Ezekiel after the game on his own thing he does about feeding him the football.
Bills were a defense that bent, but did not break on Thursday. They made Dak Prescott uncomfortable. They harassed him all afternoon and forced him to make mistakes. If you’re a Buffalo fan, this game goes down as one those special memories that being a fan of this team, we have not seen in a long time.
#10.GREEN BAY PACKERS 8-3 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) Anybody for some nacho cheese?
Packers were absolutely turned into nacho cheese versus the 49ers last Sunday. What is with the Packers and the west coast trips this season? They lost to a bad Chargers team because they were hung over. Then San Francisco grated the cheese heads. Aaron Rodgers was a complete disaster. He passed for only 104 yards. That’s 1.7 a yard per pass play he averaged on Sunday night.
Senator Bluto from Animal house had 0.0. He was drunk. What is Aaron Rodgers’ excuse?
#11.TENNESSEE TITANS 6-5 (UP 4 SPOTS) The Titans come off their bye week and beat up on the Jaguars. The Titans are on the rise. They are close to the second wild card spot. However the division is in reach as well. Ryan Tannehill now is 4-1 since this team made that quarterback switch. He had a fine day passing for two touchdowns as he threw for 259 yards with no mistakes made. Then the Jaguars nightmare. Derrick Henry who unleashed stiff armed a few Jaguar defenders all the way down the sideline for a 74 yard rushing touchdown. He finished with 159 yards on the ground. He scored two touchdowns in a 20 second span. Last year he had a monster game versus the Jaguars as well.
#12.CLEVELAND BROWNS 5-6 (UP 4 SPOTS) Cleveland Browns are climbing up and are making a run at the second wild card spot. Browns steamrolled the Dolphins as they have been one of the hottest teams in the league. Jarvis Landry got revenge versus his former team with 10 catches, 148 yards receiving, and two touchdowns. It was a game during which Kareem Hunt found the end zone for the Browns. His first touchdown in a Browns uniform and his first since his Kansas City days. Joe Schobert another two picks. This is guy that could be in the running for defensive player of the year. He’s having some monster games.
Freddie Kitchens is not the brightest bulb in the box.Wearing a shirt that says Pittsburgh started it in Browns colors. Will this give Steelers bulletin board material? Part two of Steelers and Browns this Sunday. Will helmets fly?
#13.CAROLINA PANTHERS 5-6 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Panthers have been on the slide and have found no way to get off it. They came back versus the Saints and tied the game late in that one. Then to see the Saints march down the field and kick a winning field goal as time expired. That might be the nail in this Panther team. As it is a full house of winning teams seeking playoff spots. Plus teams like the Bears have jumped in front of the Panthers in the wild card race. Panthers should get back on track this week facing the red hot Redskin team who have a one game winning streak going.
#14.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 6-5 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Colts looked like a team that were going to hold on to the division, and make that their road to the playoffs. They have now fallen off the map. Head coach Frank Reich has to get his team to get mad and angry like in the movie Fallen down.
If they don’t they will be home for the playoffs. This Sunday is a huge match up with a redhot Titan team.
#15.OAKLAND RAIDERS 6-5 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) When you lose to the Jets, when your team is on the verge of making a playoff run, it’s time to call it a year. The Raiders will follow up this loss with another loss versus their division nemesis the Chiefs. We give the Raiders that comeback team of the year. Which will be a participation ribbon. These are the days where everyone needs a hug. Raiders have some rookies that should be getting awarded for their play. It was a nice story while it lasted. See you in Vegas.
#16.DALLAS COWBOYS 6-6 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) Can the Cowboys beat teams with a 500 record like themselves? We know they can beat teams with losing records. Buffalo embarrassed them on Thanksgiving, so we know they still have not beaten a winning team. Cowboys despite not winning of late still have a great chance to make the playoffs in such a bad division. Plus an Eagle team that has been plagued by injuries. They won the first match up. They play them again.
#17.PITTSBURGH STEELERS 6-5 (UP TWO SPOTS) Steelers right now have the number two wild card spot if playoffs were today. The Steelers last week had to replace Mason Rudolph who struggled against the bottom of the league Bengal team. Steelers offense is not that good these days. Can their defense keep them a float? If they lose this weekend to the Browns in part two of the helmet to head conflict, I say season over. This is a game where Steelers should activate Mean Joe Green. This is game that if they win, it will push them over the finish line.
#18. ARIZONA CARDINALS 3-8-1 (UP 2 SPOTS) Cardinals probably should have won last week. Another close one versus the 49ers where they saw their lead evaporate in the last minute of the game. I think the Cardinals will take down the Rams this week and end their playoff dreams. Which put the Rams on that hangover list of team losers in the Superbowl. I think Cardinals will play spoiler and get a few wins before the regular season is over.
#19.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 5-6 (DOWN 2 SPOTS)
I don’t think Rock or the Eagles are getting up again for this season. Too many injuries to key positions on offense. They have gotten up before. However Nick Foles is not in the building any more. The season might be done as the liberty bell has a bigger crack in it these days
#20. LA RAMS 6-5 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) I think the Rams traded away the wrong player in Marcus Peters. He comes back with the Ravens and burns them on Monday Night. Then the Rams made the wrong trade and acquiring Jalen Ramsey, is a cancer which poisoned this team and the Jaguars where he came from. They gave up too much for Ramsey as well. Rams absolutely mauled by the Ravens on Monday night. Rams won the week before in a sloppy game. This team in my mind will not make the playoffs. They should have never made the Superbowl last season. This has been a team that did very well in player personnel before and during 2018. Every move this season seems to have not worked out. Either in trades or letting your own walk out the door as free agents. The hangover is real. Anybody for Rams head soup? In New Orleans they call it Rajun Cajun Rams head stew.
#21.CHICAGO BEARS 6-6 (UP 3 SPOTS) Watch out world, the Chicago Bears are in the playoff hunt. The Bears suddenly have won three games in a row. They are now even with their record at 6-6. Mitch Trubisky was going to be hung in the town square and ridden out of town being dragged down Michigan Ave by the bumper of Mike Ditka’s car. Bears have turned things around versus some garbage bottom-of-the league teams. They beat the Lions without Matthew Stafford. Then the Giants. Then again the Lions, this time a rookie quarterback in for Stafford that almost beat them. A guy that made his first start. Mitch Trubisky has played better. I’m not buying what they are selling. Lions game one and the Giants in both games, they had chances to win at the end. You could say the same thing on Thanksgiving. The Bears took the lead. Then almost lost it on the last drive with the Lions driving. The final four games they need to win them all for any chance. Next Thursday they play a desperate Cowboy team. Then Packers, Chiefs and conclude this nightmare season with the Vikings. No way they win 3 of those games.
#22.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 4-7 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Jacksonville were absolutely destroyed by the Tennessee Titans. That is three straight losses for the Jaguars in a row. All to their own division opponents. Plus Nick Foles still has not won a game behind center for this team. Jaguars did manage to get 20 points most of that was in garbage time when the game was well in hand for the Titans.
Put Doug Marone on my Black Monday list.You could put his name at the top of the list. He left his press conference furious last Sunday after the loss. Taking his cue from Cam Newton on ways to handle the press. The Jaguars whole team needs huge make over.
Call Dr.Phil. Maybe Jerry Springer. Get Jenny Jones back and help this Jacksonville franchise makeover this ugly team.
#23.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 4-7 (UP 2 SPOTS) The Falcons welcomed their third division foe in three weeks. The Falcons beat up on the Saints and Panthers. You’d think the resurgence of the Falcons would easily complete the hat trick on the Buccaneers. Jameis Winston despite throwing two more picks, overcame his mistakes and upended the hot dirty bird who laid a stink on their own field. Winston now has 20 interceptions for the season. He threw for three touchdown and passed for 300 yards. Wide receiver Chris Godwin had a big day with 7 catches 184 yards and two Touchdowns. It was a day Chris Godwin and Mike Evans made it into the 1,000 yard club for the year in receiving yards. Plus Jameis Winston threw a touchdown pass to the defensive tackle that did not hurt his stats. Vita Vea came in at the goal line and grabbed a 1 yard pass for a touchdown to make his day and a nice win for the Buccaneers.
#24.ATLANTA FALCONS 3-9 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) Jesus,Mary and Julio no Jones on Thanksgiving. The Falcons rose from the dead and gave two beat downs to the Saints and Panthers. They they get slapped in the face by the Buccaneers, and the Saints get revenge on them on Turkey day.
I guess the Falcon defense shows up when they want to. The Falcons’ rickity offensive line is eventually going to send Matt Ryan into an early retirement. Coach Dan Quinn is back on the Black Monday list. Bright spot is the Falcons kicker.
The onside kick in the NFL is extinct like the dinosaurs. It’s very hard to kick a successful one. Kicker Younghoe Koo had two successful onside kicks late in that game on Thanksgiving. The former San Diego Charger kicker and A.A.F kicker who played for the Atlanta Legends in that league.
#25.NEW YORK JETS 4-7 (UP 3 SPOTS) The Jets with a big upset last Sunday at home. Apparently they do not like the Black Hole fans invading their stadium. For lots of reasons.
New York stadium workers might have to spray the seats the Raiders fans occupied. You don’t know what they are carrying from their hole in Oakland.
Don’t want Sam Darnold catching the clap. Darnold had a huge game 20-29 315 yards his 4th career 300 yard game. He threw two touchdown passes and ran one in as Jets destroyed the Raiders. It got so bad for the Raiders they pulled Derek Carr for Mike Glennon. Yikes that’s a really bad day at the office. It’s the Jets’ first three game winning streak in over two years. Plus they hurt the Raiders playoff chances and broke their three game winning streak.
#26.DETROIT LIONS 3-8-1 (DOWN 3 SPOTS)
Lions lost to the Redskins in an ugly game last Sunday. Then on Thanksgiving the Bears carved them up like a turkey. Lions continue to look like jive turkeys as they blew another lead. The Lions have had the lead in all of their games this season at some point during the game. Lions have lost 5 in a row. Without Matthew Stafford. Their second stringer Jeff Driskel had a hamstring problem and was the back up on Thursday. The Lions turned to 24 year David Blough. His first pass goes for a 75 yard bomb TD pass to Kenny Golladay. Blough did well and finished 22-38 280 yards with one TD and an interception at the end of the game. He could not strike back at the end after the Bears took the lead on them.
I have been like running back Bo Scarbrough for the Lions. The way he’s been playing. A power runner who had 83 yards on the ground versus the Bears defense. The way he breaks tackles and fights for extra yards. A very scrappy player. Lions have been without a good running back since Barry Sanders retired.
#27.LA CHARGERS 4-7 (SAME) Chargers are on their bye week. No stupid play or interceptions to be talked about. We do have a question. Does Phillip Rivers have more kids than interceptions thrown in the red zone this season? Is this the last season for Phillip Rivers? Should they try to see what Tyrod Taylor could do the rest of the season? Or do you know what you get from him? Giants pull the plug on Eli Manning this season.
I think this season will be the last for Phillip Rivers in the Chargers uniform as they will pull the plug and find someone from the draft.
#28.WASHINGTON REDSKINS 2-9 (UP 2 SPOTS) Redskins get a rare win last Sunday versus the Lions and there was no team bus crash involved. Dwayne Haskins wins his first game as a starting quarterback. Haskins numbers were not impressive as his stat line was 13-29, 156 yards and threw an interception. It was not a pretty game. Dwayne Haskins did drive his team down the field at the end of the game for the winning score. He was so excited about the win he forgot to go back on the field to kneel down in victory formation. He was busy taking a selfie with a fan. Hope it was not with Donald Trump. Case Keenum took the knee. The big money they pay Keenum the one year wonder, he should be mopping the floors at the stadium after the game to earn his scratch.
#29.DENVER BRONCOS 3-8 (DOWN 3 SPOTS) Broncos second half collapse versus the Vikings continued in Buffalo. The team could get nothing going as they were pretty much grounded by the Buffalo defense all day long. The Broncos will go in another direction as Brandon Allen is out and Drew Lock will get the start for the Broncos versus the Chargers this Sunday. Brandon Allen knew he was on a short leash while Drew Lock was dealing with an injury. Brandon Allen went 1-2 in his three starts.Kind of raw deal because he should of been 2-1 with that second half melt down versus the Vikings. He threw three TD’S, 2 interceptions for 515 yards. He only completed about 46% of his passes. Will that be enough for him to get a number two job on depth chart with a team?
Bronco fans hope to forget about the lemon Joe Flacco. Plus all the other crappy QB’S that came in after Peyton Manning. They hope this is a new era for this team. Drew Lock who they drafted in the second round from Missouri gets the keys to the car. John Elway, the mastermind behind the Broncos, needs this pick to work. Elway a hall of fame quarterback has been having the hardest time trying to find the Broncos a franchise quarterback. Around the league young quarterbacks have been doing well which if Drew Lock does not pan out, well… Broncos fans, don’t blame them if they get the torches and pitch forks to charge the Broncos HQ.
#30.MIAMI DOLPHINS 2-9 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Ryan Fitzpatrick celebrated his 37th birthday versus Cleveland Last Sunday. Dolphins lost in a rout. Ryan Fitzpatrick had 2 TD passes and the usual 2 interceptions. Do they have some kind of meeting at the local community center for Quarterbacks to talk about their problem? Maybe perhaps a 12 step program. “Hi I’m Jay Cutler and I throw pick sixes”. Phillip Rivers and Jameis Winston could sit in on this class right next door to the problem gamblers. The ones that bet on games where these quarterbacks blew it for them. Taught by Vinny Testaverde.
Vinny has an excuse, he was color blind. Good news is Dolphins are still hunting a top pick. Plus Ryan Fitzpatrick did not get assaulted by his own helmet versus the Browns.
#31.NEW YORK GIANTS 2-9 (SAME) Giants came off the bye week and had the halftime lead on the Chicago Bears in the Windy City. Giants defense made a struggling Mitch Trubisky look relevant again as Bears came back and claimed the lead for good. Giants made it closer in the 4th quarter with another score. They lost 19-14 and Giants missed two field goals which is six points as they lost by 5 points. The Giants have so many holes on this roster. Then you question is head coach Pat Shurmur the right guy to lead them out of this Gigantic hole they have fallen into?
Pat Shurmur now is 7-20 as head coach with the G-MEN. They have lost seven in a row. They clinched their third losing season with the loss to the Bears. Put Pat Shurmur named as a candidate for the black Monday list after the season.
#32.CINCINNATI BENGALS 0-11 (SAME) If the Bengals go perfect this season 0-16, then the state of Ohio will have two NFL teams that went perfect going the wrong way in the last few years. Can Cincinnati and Cleveland adopt Ohio State University as their NFL representatives? They are perfect going in the opposite direction of the Bumbles. Ohio State probably could beat the Bumbles. Would the Bengals parade of their perfect season be better than the Browns parade they had a few seasons ago?
Bengals think ten points is the score to get to win a game. They have played in two tough games in the last two weeks only scoring ten points but losing by one score. Mason Rudolph played poorly for the Steelers and he was benched. The other guy who helped the Steelers prevail, Devlin Hodges, was third on the Steeler depth chart and probably helped save Pittsburgh’s season. Bengals once again Plaxico Burressed themselves in the foot with costly turnovers to seal the deal for the Steelers.
The Wild shamrock 