We were dealt a bad hand hand in week 15. All Jokers as we roll out week 15 power rankings.
#1.BALTIMORE RAVENS 12-2 (SAME) Last Sunday the Ravens clinched a playoff spot with that win over Buffalo. They played two good teams in back to back weeks and won both of them by one score, one on the road and one at home. On Thursday night they went back to their regular programming in throttling the Jets to now clinch the AFC North division. That’s the Ravens’ 10th consecutive victory in a row. Lamar Jackson continues his mastery of the quarterback position. Taking the position to a whole new level. He had another 5 touchdown passes versus the Jets. Which gives him 33 for the year. That is tops in the NFL. Jackson ran for another 86 yards on the ground and breaking the dog killer’s single season rushing mark as a quarterback.
Lamar Jackson now has 1,108 yards rushing compared to Mike Vick’s old record set in 2006 with 1,039 yards. Baltimore now will face Cleveland to wrap up home-field advantage next Sunday. Browns beat the Ravens earlier in the season.
#2.SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS 11-2 (UP 2 SPOTS) A few weeks ago people were talking like the 49ers could be the scariest wild card opponent. 49ers had a 3 game stretch versus very tough opponents and they went 2-1 losing only to the Ravens which was a field goal as time expired. The 49ers did that to the Saints last Sunday as they won this season’s ultimate shootout 48-46 in the dome in New Orleans. Robbie Gould is money once again. Did the Bears cut him?
Gould kicks the game winner as they take down the Saints in a game that could be just a preview for what is coming down the road in the playoffs. I could see this being a NFC championship game in January. It was a game that had great offenses but both teams have do have pretty good defenses. Defense was obviously thrown to the curbside in this one. Meanwhile the 49ers now can concentrate on getting home field advantage as they have the leg up in the NFC.
#3.KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 9-4 (UP 3 SPOTS) Was the Evil Empire behind sending the Chiefs equipment to New Jersey? You have to wonder what evilness lies deep inside the Empire. The Chiefs got their equipment and then brought down the Empire on their home field. Chiefs end a 21 game home win streak, the Patriots had going in regular season and playoffs. Chiefs defense was amazing as they held Tom Brady to only 169 yards passing and forced him to throw off target most of the afternoon with pressure in his face. The Chiefs built a 20-7 lead. They held on even with some bad calls. One play in particular the Patriots should have had a touchdown. Billy Boy used his challenges earlier on small potatoes and was out of challenges. Chiefs with the Raiders loss also win the AFC West. Patrick Mahomes is the third quarterback this season to finally get his first win over the hated Patriots. Deshaun Watson and Lamar Jackson were the other two QB’s who did in the Patriots this season.
#4.NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 10-3 (DOWN 1 SPOT) The Saints mission seems to have gotten a tad complicated. The rise of the 49ers this year looks a lot more scary then the LA Rams of last season. The Saints went toe to toe with the 49ers in a shootout. They lose a tough one at home in the last seconds by a game winning field goal. The problem is Saints would of liked to get home field advantage throughout the playoffs. But now they find themselves looking up at the 49ers by a game. Plus the 49ers have the tie breaker beating the Saints. Saints also have some defensive personnel out with injuries for the season. Defensive end Marcus Davenport and defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins are big blows in the trenches for this team. The Saints will have to really out score their opponents and hope the defense can force a few turnovers. It’s a shame because the Saints defense were playing very well this season. Probably the best defense Drew Brees has ever had in his time in New Orleans.
#5.TENNESSEE TITANS 8-5 (UP4 SPOTS) Titans win their 4th straight game in a row. They destroy yet another team as they put up another 40 point performance this time versus the Raiders. Since Ryan Tannehill took over, the Titans are 6-1 in seven games as a starter. Titans are second in the NFL with 31.4 points per game average when Tannehill is the quarterback. Titans now are tied with the Texans for the division. The Titans and Texans square off this weekend and in week 17. Titans will be very scary to play in the playoffs the way they are playing right now.
#6.SEATTLE SEAHAWKS 10-3 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) Seahawks lost their first game on the road this season to the the Rams last Sunday. Every team goes through the year where they lay an egg. Seattle played their worst game of the year scoring only 12 points. Only touchdown the Seahawks scored was a defensive score by an interception early in the third quarter by Quandre Diggs who ran it back 55 yards. The Rams defense pressured Russel Wilson all night. Seahawks now find themselves one game behind the 49ers in the division. They do play the 49ers once more this season. Right now they have the top wild card spot.
#7.NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS 10-3 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) I feel a disturbance in the force in a good way. The return of the Jedi is Patrick Mahomes.
Chiefs give the New England Patriots their first loss at home in 21 games. Patrick Mahomes, the young Skywalker Jedi Knight, finally gets his due and wins his first battle over Tom Brady. The Patriots have suddenly lost two in a row. The home crowd boos. AS the Empire storm troopers suddenly look weak.
#8.BUFFALO BILLS 9-4 (SAME) Buffalo gave the Ravens a battle. Bills had a chance at the very end to tie the game on the last drive. Ravens held on. Ravens won by one score 24-17 and clinched a playoff spot. Buffalo defense is for real and contained a Raven defense that has been destroying teams in the 40’s . They held the Ravens in check and the offense could not get it done at the end. It took awhile for the Bills offense to get things going in general as they settle for field goals in the first half. In the second half the offense did come to life and Cole Beasley found the end zone once again. At the end they could not pull it out against the top team in their conference. You still have to applaud the effort. Buffalo nation is nervous but should be proud.
#9.GREEN BAY PACKERS 10-3 (UP 1 SPOT) Green Bay plays another cupcake. They played a close one with the Redskins. Green Bay prevails and it was not Aaron Rodgers who did the damage on the offense.It was the Packers running game. The other Aaron. Aaron Jones ran 134 yards and a score. He caught six passes for 58 yards. It was Aaron Jones’ third 100 yard game this season. Rodgers was good but not awesome off the charts. Some say if you stop Aaron you can stop the Packers. They say Aaron the running back not the quarterback. Can they hold their mastery over the Bears this weekend? Vikings are still on their heels with one more match up versus them as well.
#10.MINNESOTA VIKINGS 9-4 (UP1 SPOT) Vikings have been riding some rough waves lately. They are still looking up at the Packers. Lots of teams are gathering momentum late in the season and are breathing down their necks to try to overtake this Viking team for the wild card. Vikings have been treading water and were glad to meet up with the Lions. Lions without Matthew Stafford. Lions with a bad defense. It’s nice to get all the wrinkles ironed out versus a team like the good ole Lions. The defense shut out the Lions all the way until the last two minutes of the game. The offense you want to do better than 20 points. But a win gets them back treading water in the same position they were in a week ago, but they might feel a little bit better about coming off a win than a loss. Can they play the Lions three more times to conclude the season?
#11.HOUSTON TEXANS 8-5 (DOWN 4 SPOTS )
Nothing ever goes smooth for the Houston Texans. Things were looking good for them. The Colts are out of their lives now that the Titans have become a major problem and they have the same record as the Texans. Both teams play each other twice in the final two weeks. It was not that long ago which seems like light years now that the Texans beat upon the Patriots. Then a rookie quarterback Drew Lock and the Denver Broncos steamrolled the Texans last weekend in a rout. Titans are one of the hottest team in the league as they routed Oakland. Could the Texans be in for a major tailspin right at the end of regular season and lose everything they gained so far?
#12.PITTSBURGH STEELERS 8-5 (SAME) Steelers not releasing that second wild card spot any time soon. Steelers get their 7th win in the last 8 games. Steelers got a special teams score on Diontae Johnson’s punt return touchdown.
The Duck has become a dynasty in Pittsburgh so far. He had a touchdown pass and made no mistakes as he was almost perfect for the 16-19 152 yards. It’s the Steelers defense that has been the big part of all these wins. They are a turnover machine. They forced three interceptions stopping key drives by Kyle Murray and the Cardinals.
#13.LA RAMS 8-5 (UP 2 SPOTS) Rams keep their playoff hopes alive with big win over the Seahawks.They gave Seattle their first road lost of the season.They have won 5 games out of their last seven. The Rams had a very aggressive game plan especially on defense. The Rams defense brought everything which included the kitchen sink at Russell Wilson. The Rams were in his face all night. They sacked him 5 times. Jared Goff had a nice night even though he threw two interceptions. But Rams defense was able to overcome his mistakes by stifling the Seahawks offense. Goff did throw two TD passes, one to Gary Woods his first of the season.The other to Cooper Kupp. Rams now face a bad Cowboys team that has been in tailspin forever it seems.
#14.CHICAGO BEARS 7-6 (UP 2 SPOTS) Bears have won three in a row. Mitch Trubisky has risen from the graveyard as he pronounced dead only weeks ago with a toe tag on his big toe. Now it’s time to slay the dragon that has haunted your team for decades now. Bears beat an even Steven team in Dallas last week. Lions twice and the Giants as they got themselves back in the conversation about playoffs.They have Akiem Hicks coming back from a injury that has sidelined him for weeks
He’s a big cog in that Bears defense which will make them much better with his presence alone on the field. It’s time to slay the Packers this Sunday in Green Bay. I need to see Mitch Trubisky play well versus a rival.Versus a playoff bound team. Green Bay checks all those boxes. A lost season over for the Bears. This game will also determine the faith of Mitch Trubisky as well. If he struggles then you have to bring in a veteran next year. Even if he does well I might still bring in someone else because that solid defense has only a small window. Roller coaster play at the most important position is not going to help, especially if the QB may be the weakest link on your team.
#15.CLEVELAND BROWNS 6-7 (DOWN 2 SPOTS) Even though the Browns won the game, they were totally outplayed by the Bengals last Sunday. Bengals beat the Browns in every stat except the score. When the Browns do win, something else always overshadows it. This time OBJ Drama. Does Odell Beckham Jr. want out of Cleveland?
Odell arrived in Cleveland this off season. The Browns had high hopes with what they built last season in the second half as they were winning games. Playing good football. The hope was with the additions they got it would put this team back in the playoffs. The Browns have turned into those old Cincinnati Bengal teams that had all the misfits on them. Bengals were able to win games and at least make it to the playoffs and lose in the first round. Browns have all the misfits and the coaching is unable to gel all these personalities together. The lock room is divided with a cancer outbreak. Bengals back then had a better coach in Marvin Lewis than the stupid person the Browns have standing on their sideline.
#16.TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 6-7 (UP 4 SPOTS) Are your Spidey senses telling you something about Jameis Winston?
Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be missing the playoffs for the 12th season in a row. Right now the Buccaneers are one of the hottest teams in the entire league. They have won three in a row. They have won 4 out of their last 5 games. Plenty of things that will need to be addressed this off season. You have to give Bruce Arians credit for his first season coaching in Tampa Bay. They have a high powered offense but they turn over the ball way too much. Turnovers don’t help your defense’s numbers. Are teams cashing in on turn overs especially if the team is set up right by the goal line or in the red zone? The Buccaneers have not made up their mind about Jameis Winston yet. He’s second in passing yards but first in turnovers. Winston has 38 turnovers all by himself. Twenty three of them are interceptions. He threw three more last Sunday. One for a pick six. However Winston threw 4 touchdown passes in a big win over the Colts in a high scoring affair. Can the Buccaneers find a guy that can pass and be in the top ten ranking of passing yards without turning over the ball like Winston does? If you subtract the turnover machine will it help the defense?
#17.INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 6-7 (DOWN 3 SPOTS) Colts have no luck at all these days. Besides losing Andrew Luck before the season started as he retired the team started off well. They went 5-2 in their first seven games. They were in first place. They have now dropped to third place. They even saw the rejuvenated Titans pass them up in the standings. Bad kicking game has haunted this team this season. The team has leads late in games and they can’t make enough plays to stop the other team to get off the field. Mentally something inside this team’s head is not able to overcome.
Last week a game versus the Buccaneers, a team you can beat. They built a 10-0 lead on them. They forced some turnovers. They had Marlon Mack from an injury. They had a new kicker, Chase McLaughlin, who made two field goals in the game. Jacoby Brissett’s completion ratio could have been better but no mistakes and he threw two touchdown passes. Then a missed field goal that bounced off the uprights. That could of extended the lead and made it a harder time for the Buccaneers to come back. But Buccaneers came back and won it. Throw in the towel they have New Orleans next who came off a tough loss last week.
#18.PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 6-7 (UP 4 SPOTS) How many weeks did it take to finally see either the Cowboys or the Eagles win a game? Eagles did it on Monday night ruining Eli Manning’s farewell tour. Eagles snap a three game losing streak. It took overtime and a comeback down 14-0 to finally dispatch one of the worse teams in the NFL. Eagles were down to only one healthy receiver when all this was set game match. Tight end Zack Ertz had to line up as wide receiver. Eagles have been using practice squad players to fill in on key positions especially with the playmaker spots. Eagles and Cowboys both have the exact record at 6-7. Cowboys hold the tiebreaker because they beat the Eagles earlier in the season. Both teams play in week 16. This Sunday Rams play the Cowboys while Eagles play the Redskins who have been playing a lot better. Can Eagles even be able to function with all the injuries piling up. Week 16 might settle the division. The worst in football. Will the team that wins the NFC East even have a winning record?
#19.OAKLAND RAIDERS 6-7 (DOWN 1 SPOT)
Before Chucky Gruden destroys your Barbie Dolls and GI Joe figures, he has said changes will be made to his squad next season. The Raiders slide continues as they played a good first half hanging with the Titans. Then they were destroyed in the second half. Another loss another blow out. Tale of two cities is what describes the Raiders. Oakland to Vegas. Then the first half great football and the second half nothing but crap. Was hoping playoffs for the Raiders. Give the Black Hole faithful in Oakland a good season before they pack their bags up and move to sin city and find another bunch of soccer hooligans. We salute some of the Raider fans on this blog.
#20.ATLANTA FALCONS 4-9 (UP 2 SPOTS)
Good ole number 84 Roddy White makes it into the ring of honor for the Falcons. He was honored at half time last Sunday. Who the hell is the OZ?
OZ aka Olamide Zaccheaus, caught one pass last Sunday. However it was a biggie fry style of a catch. A 93 yarder for a score. Matt Ryan’s career longest touchdown pass. Atlanta has a losing season going in 2019. They have some winning records. The Falcons are 2-0 versus the Panthers this season. Plus they are 3-2 in their own division.
#21.CAROLINA PANTHERS 5-8 (DOWN 4 SPOTS) Panthers fired Ron Rivera like he was the scapegoat of this Panther team being flushed down the toilet. With Atlanta up and down, I figured the firing of Ron Rivera would get the troops to rally and come out with a win for him and the interim coach. Maybe the bad feelings in the locker room with River Boat Ron are still lingering and they really don’t care about ownership. As they were torpedoed by the Falcons on Sunday in a rout. Perry Fewell the interim coach has his work cut out for him. Who knows Perry may flee Carolina and meet up with Ron Rivera where ever he lands.
#22.DALLAS COWBOYS 6-7 (DOWN 3 SPOTS) Looks like the Cowboys are not very good against 500 team records either. They lose their second consecutive Thursday games. They have lost 7-10 when they started 3-0. Ezekiel Elliot should just stop feeding himself whatever crap he’s spewing down.
Notice he has a gut there. Elliot’s 5th straight game that he has ran under 100.
If the Ezekiel Elliot Bus, the short bus, goes under 50 yards, does it blow up is the question.
Or is the season already done in a nice fiery ball explosion. Jerry Jones should fire himself. The Cowboys need a new kicker who has 10 misses this season already. In a bad division they are still alive. They are lucky the Redskins have been eliminated since they were my sleeper pick.
#23.DENVER BRONCOS 5-8 (UP 3 SPOTS) Could it be John Elway finally found his quarterback?
In his first start of his career Drew Lock beat the Chargers. He had a very good game. In his second career start he beat a team at the top of their division. A team that just took down the Evil Empire. A team that beat its rival. This was not a close game like the Chargers. Drew Lock threw for three touchdowns over 300 yards in a rout of the Houston Texans. Drew Lock and the Broncos built a 38-3 lead at one point. I knew Vic Fangio would get the defensive side of the ball playing better for the Broncos. If Broncos have found their quarterback this team is on the rise. Where will Joe Flacco go now? Drew Lock’s wristband of plays, teammates of his said he has that Buzz Light year look going for him when he played the Chargers.The wristband that could shoot lasers like Buzz. Broncos continued that fun with that every time he threw for a touchdown.
#24.ARIZONA CARDINALS 3-9-1 (DOWN 3 SPOTS) Kyler Murray has been regressing late in the season. Three interceptions versus the Steelers last Sunday. That’s 4 Int’s in two weeks for the rookie quarterback. He threw one of them very late in the game with the team driving for the game winning score. It was desperation heave at the time. Despite a bad game this kid makes mistakes but keeps the team in the game.
The Cardinals defense does not fair well versus the pass. However on defense they have one guy that is playing with a high motor and able to get after the opponent’s quarterback. Chandler Jones forced his sixth fumble of the year last Sunday. It was also his 14th sack of the season as well. Chandler Jones since arriving in Arizona has played in 61 games and has 55 sacks all together. A few pieces on defense and offense this team could take a leap. They have some pieces in place now.
#25.WASHINGTON REDSKINS 3-10 (SAME) Redskins have been playing the best football in their entire division. It’s too bad they can not represent that division in the playoffs which would give everyone hope from the NFC East than the Cowboys or the Eagles. The Redskins played Green Bay tough in cheese country. The outcome was the usual with another loss and a season with double digit losses. Plus the Redskins have been eliminated from the playoffs. Adrian Peterson in this contest ran for 76 yards and found the end zone. That gives Spanky enough yards to reach the 14,000 rushing yard club. Only six backs have reach that club. Redskins always get some followers I imagine. Outside the stadium 30-40 protesters rallied about a future name change.
I thought the name change had been dying down as I have not heard much about it in the news in a very long time. Perhaps playing under the radar like the Redskins do, not winning or making waves to the point they don’t even exist. They can change the logo and put Donald Trump’s face on the helmet. This way they insult all nationalities instead of just the Native Americans.
#26.LA CHARGERS 5-8 (UP 2 SPOTS) Did someone put something in Phillip Rivers’ oatmeal before game time? Mashed some blue pills with some strawberries. By far his best game of the season. No Interceptions. Rivers throws three touchdowns and for over 300 yards on his 38th birthday. Against an uninspired Jaguar team. Give the man an extension. He can play until he’s 43 years old. Chargers rout the Jaguars and throw 45 points on the board. The team rises from the graveyard when they are officially eliminated from the playoffs. Not buying what they are selling. Phillip Rivers did complete a 84 yard pass play for a touchdown to Austin Ekeler, which was the longest completion Phillip Rivers had in his career of 16 years.
#27.JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 4-9 (DOWN 3 SPOTS) Once upon a time ago Jacksonville Jaguars had a stellar defense. They made the playoffs with a bad quarterback because they had such a stout unit. GONE… Then the team goes out and pays Nick Foles, the legend in Philadelphia, to be the man behind center. Remember Foles is the best part time quarterback in the league. Foles injures himself the very first game. Then they put in Gardner Minshew and he does well. Jaguars bench him in favor of healthy Nick Foles as he returns several weeks later. Foles turns to stone. Minshew fills in for Foles who is very rocky and the comeback falls short in a pretty good performance coming off the bench. Last week versus a crappy Charger team who would gift wrap you a win then beat your team destroys the Jaguars. Yes the Chargers come back from being on life support all year it’s a miracle. Where do people from Florida go on vacation? The while flag is flying in Jacksonville as the team as a whole played very poor and uninspired football. Only one person who can turn his whole team into stone. Head coach Doug Marone.
Han Solo came out of his carbonite state. I’m sure the Jaguar players will come out of their hibernation for the new coach. Doug Marone after the game slumped over his desk. He knows the end is near. Desperate backed in the corner as his football life flashes by.
#28.DETROIT LIONS 3-9-1 (DOWN 1 SPOT) Can the Lions say Ron Rivera?
If I were the Lions first thing on the Christmas list is get rid of that fat slob you hired from the Evil Empire. Matt Patricia is a dead branch off the Belichick weeping willow. He has went 9-19-1 record as a Lions coach. He is now 2-5 in the NFC North losing to the Vikings. Last Sunday the Lions played their first game of 2019 without once having a lead in the game. It’s bad coaching if your team does not know how to step on the opponent’s neck when your winning. Then to lose all those games when you are winning. River Boat Ron improves that crappy defense of the Lions in an instant. Matt Patricia by trade a defensive coordinator perhaps the reporter he told once to sit up straight and quit slouching would say Patricia is just a cup cake expert by trade. Food and coaching philosophy.
#29.NEW YORK JETS 5-8 (UP 1 SPOT) My mother always told me if you can’t make school, during the weekend you’re staying home until you feel better. Le’Veon Bell was ruled out of Sunday’s game with the flu. On Saturday night Bell felt well enough to go bowling on the eve of a Sunday game. He says he bowled a career high that night, a 251 breaking his old mark of 238. Bell who signed with the Jets in the off season a 4 year deal of 52.5 million has not quite done well in his first year wearing the green colors. Bell is only averaging 3.2 yards a carry. He’s on a very bad team. They were playing a very bad team at their own level. This is a guy that did not like the contract and held out in Pittsburgh. He now has the money and holds out during a game. I’m sure he did go to the game and support his teammates and watch on the sidelines.. This was OK with head coach Adam Gase. These are not the players that will help a younger team right now and next season. Not even sure why the Jets signed this dirt bag in the first place. Gaping holes on the roster and to sink that type of money into a bad character type of guy is just pathetic.
#30.MIAMI DOLPHINS 3-10 (DOWN 1 SPOT) The Miami Dolphins can probably check off the box they have a kicker. His name is Jason Sanders and he set a Dolphin record last Sunday with seven field goals. Maybe they can pass on their kicker recipe to the Bears and other teams that clearly don’t have the leg to make half those kicks in one game. If you’re a fan, no way you do not want to see your kicker score all the points especially a loss to a division foe. Both Dolphin receivers left last Sunday’s game with concussions. Fitzmagic was limited and drives were halted but kicks were made. You live by the kick you die by the kick as the Jets got the last leg upon the Dolphins in this one.
#31.NEW YORK GIANTS 2-11 (SAME)
Rookie Daniel Jones is probably out for the rest of the season for the G-MEN. Perfect timing for Eli Manning’s farewell which started off with a bang. Manning and the Giants had a 14-0 lead on MNF. They were winning 17-3 at the half versus depleted Eagle team that had many playmakers out with injuries. Manning was 15-30 203 yards and tossed two touchdowns. His first game since week two. The Eagles came back and won the game in overtime. Giants tie their franchise record 9 straight losses set back in 1976. The 39 year old Eli Manning should get one home start in front of the Giant faithful. Eli Manning a two time Superbowl winner will be free agent next season. I would considered him a middle tier quarterback. Guys like Matthew Stafford and Ryan Tannehill have hope. If you can surround a guy with playmakers, a good line, some type of running game and a good defense he may have a few years where he breaks out and accomplishes a Superbowl win for your city. That’s what Eli Manning has done. I’d say Joe Flacco as well. Both of them have had bad years after they won the Superbowl. I think Eli Manning will walk off into the sunset after this season. He’ll be the type who retires after only playing for one team.
#32.CINCINNATI BENGALS 1-12 (SAME) The Bengals ruined their perfect season last week as they put in the rifleman Andy Dalton as he guided them through the roller coaster Jets team. Like the snap of the finger Bengals are back to their losing ways.They beat Cleveland in every stat imagined on Sunday but the most important stat, the score. Joe Mixon had a career high in rushing yards in one game running for 146 and finding the end zone. No worries the Bengals are still in the Joe Burrow sweepstakes.
It will not compete with the silver sow award. Or Les Nesman’s Buck eye awards. It’s not skyline chili. But its something to get excited over.
The Wild shamrock 