Week 14 NFL Power Ranking Top 10; 1-5

1. Ravens ↔

Another week, another win. Even win they’re not blowing teams out; the Ravens 2019 team has found ways to come out with the victory. Whether it through excellent offense, stifling defense, or incredible special teams play they get the job done. This week it was a combination of the first two with an emphasis on defense. The defense came away with six sacks and held Josh Allen to 155 yards passing and rushing. The lowest totals for him all year. It was his performance since the Patriots game when he threw three interceptions that day. While the defense did their job on Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson passed for another three touchdowns even without his top target in Mark Andrews. He might not have been the runner we have come accustomed to seeing with only 40 yards on 11 attempts, yet he still passed the 1,000-yard mark for rushing. This is only the second time a quarterback has done that in NFL history.

2. 49ers↔

The team that for some reason continuously is doubt came up big time against another title contender on the road. They showed not only can the defense be a dominant force, but this offense can keep up with the best of them in a shootout against another great offense. The final score was 48-46, but if you watched the first half of that game then you know that it could have easily been closer to the score of the rams and Chiefs game of last year. Jimmy G threw for four touchdowns and over 300 yards again, while the running game still went for over 150 yards again. This team even showed that they can be creative with a 38-yard trick play score with an Emmanuel Sanders pass to Raheem Mostert. As well as in the clutch, when they need a play they have go-to playmakers like George Kittle with a 39-yard catch and run to help seal the game away before a game-winning field goal by Robbie Gould.

3. Saints↔

Even in a loss, this Saints team showed just how scary they can be against anyone in the league and especially in the NFC. Almost any other week if your team scores 46 points, you can expect to win, alas this fell just short due to some late-game heroics on the 49ers side of the ball. Drew Brees passed for five touchdowns and had another classic game for his Hall of Fame career came just short due to a last-second miscue on his defense. The catch and run by Kittle may have hurt but the facemask penalty at the end was the knife in the heart for them. This team can and will bounce back next week but this loss will sting for a bit. This defense will also bounce back and get back to its suffocating ways both on the ground and through the air.

4. Chiefs↑ 2

The Chiefs are finally back and now looking better than before. The offense is clicking when they need it and the Achilles of the team is looking better every week. They are stopping teams when the game is on the line and creating turnovers for a potent offense that will score from any distance. With three sacks and a pick, they made Tom Brady uncomfortable all game long. It was clearer when Tom Brady was frustrated to the point of getting in the face of Chris Jones after a play. Along with the defense, the offense is being as creative as always with the play calling. They got a score from a Travis Kelce wildcat, which most teams in the league wouldn’t have thought of. From top to bottom this Chiefs team is looking more and more like the title contenders we expected them to be this year.

5. Packers↔

Gritty win. This win probably shouldn’t have been this close between the teams, but it was. Gritty win or not, a win is a win in the NFL. Aaron Rodgers said it best, “It might be ugly at times to some folks, but we ran the ball today for 180 yards or so and got Aaron Jones going. Different teams have thrown different things at us and I just think we need to be a little more consistent at times. I don’t think we had the same type of flow after the first couple of drives with energy and just missed on a couple of things, so we’ve gotta clean some of that stuff, but I wouldn’t mind winning ugly all the way to the Super Bowl.” This team can win all the way like that with the offense and defense playing the way they are now.

-By: Darren Braxton

Week 14 NFL Power Ranking Top 10; 6-10

6. Seahawks ↓ 2

An ugly loss to a division rival. This team has been riding high on the success of the main man himself Russell Wilson. Yet, when he can’t keep the team in it and the running game isn’t working then this team will lose. This is not the same team as it was when they won the Super bowl in 2012. They haven’t been able to show the same dominance they once have. This defense isn’t a pushover because they still can cause turnovers as evident by the pick-six from Quandre Diggs. Yet the pass rush is consistently no existent when needed and they allow rusher to get yards whenever they need. I still consider this to be one of the best teams because the rushing attack and Russell Wilson can’t be stopped like this too often, but the defense needs to step it up more consistent if they plan on making a deep run in the NFC playoff picture.

7. Vikings ↑ 3

A win makes everything better. This win was a good way to get the momentum back for this squad. The defense that had been showing cracks in the armor of late sealed them up against a third-string quarterback that was pretty good on this first outing. They finished the game with five sacks and two interceptions for the rookie QB. Pro bowler Danielle Hunter led the charge with three sacks and the safety tandem of Andrew Sendejo and Harrison Smith picked off Blough. Dalvin Cook got back to his scoring ways with a rushing touchdown and Kirk Cousins continued his pretty good season with another score. If this team can keep it up, then this team can make noise throughout the playoffs.

8. Patriots ↓ 1

“O’ how the mighty have fallen.” This is the best way to sum up the past two weeks for the Patriots. It was clear early on this year there were issues with this team but winning solves all woes. It can even make you think, “This is just how the patriots are. They can start off slow but get it together when it’s needed for their title run again.” Unless you are talking about this year’s teams. No Gronk, no consistent running game, and no other receiver than Julian Edelman and you have an offense that is flat. Points are becoming harder to come by for this team if not for a top 5 defense and special teams that capitalize on the smallest of miscues this year. Even this past week, the defense and special teams held the game close but couldn’t get enough from an offense that has no identity and no real playmakers for one of the greatest quarterbacks ever. They still have their 10 wins on the year and can still win the division again for the 11th time in a row, but this team needs help, BAD.

9. Titans ↑ 3

Tan-ne-hill! Tan-ne-hill! That is what most Titans fans are screaming right now. They are 5-1 with him as the starting QB and rolling right through teams. Tannehill’s dominant play has him and this whole team playing inspired football. You have Derrick Henry running over everything in his way with four straights 100-yard rushing games. Tannehill now has the league lead in passer rating over the likes of Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Russell Wilson, and Lamar Jackson. He has thrown for 14 touchdowns and only 4 interceptions in his last 7 starts. Not only has the offense upped their play, but the defense has been getting sacks and causing turnovers leading to touchdowns. The special teams have even gotten in on the action with three field goals blocking in the last five weeks. If they win the AFC South and win two of their next three games, this team is the second scariest team to enter the playoffs.

10. Bills ↓ 2

This past loss was a hard one to swallow for a Bills team that seemed to be surging and playing some of their best football of late. Josh Allen looked inaccurate most of the day and the only saving grace was the performance of Devin Singletary on offense who single-handedly tried to keep this offense in position to make plays. On the other hand, this defense may have given up three scores through the air but was stifling the Lamar Jackson lead offense majority of the game. The made the Baltimore offense punt seven times, which is the most in any game all year long that they have done so. Jackson made his normal highlight play, but for the most part, was contained by a disciplined and aggressive Bills defense. They even managed to pick him up, which hasn’t been done in over 181 of his last passing attempts. They just came up against a team that was better today, but they are still a fearsome squad for any left on their schedule.

-By: Darren Braxton

Writer/Podcaster

NFL Power Rankings Week 13 Top 10; 1-5

1. Ravens ↔

Cold weather, raining and facing off against the top-ranked defense couldn’t stop the Ravens from pulling out a win against the 49ers. They slowed down the running game a bit by bottling up the running backs. Yet, they forgot the number one rusher on the team is Lamar Jackson who went for over 100 yards for the fourth time this year. On top of the offense doing their part, the defense forced Jimmy G into a fumble on a well-done strip-sack. Along with some critical stops down in the fourth quarter, the defense held its own. Mix in some amazing special teams plays which included a blocked field goal, a Chris Moore downing inside the two yards line and “Mr. Golden Leg” himself Justin Tucker, kicking the game-winning field goal as time expired, you got a hell of a team win.

2. 49ers ↔

They may not have gotten the win this weekend, but the 49ers showed that they are still one of the top three teams in the NFL. They went across the country to Baltimore and give the Ravens a really close scare. They held the most potent offense in the league to just 20 points in total. The weather conditions were less than optimal for either team, yet the 49ers try to keep a balanced attack going that included over 160 yards on the ground and through the air. Jimmy G had a modest number passing, but Raheem Mostert had a career-high rushing for 149 yards on 19 attempts on an improved Ravens defense. They might not have gotten the win, but they proved on Sunday just serious a title contender they are becoming. 

3. Saints ↔

The Saints clinched their division in glorious fashion with a clear win over division rival Falcons in Atlanta. The redeemed themselves from the loss two weeks prior and made sure that they showed off all their weapons. This included highlighting the multidimensional weapon in quarterback/H-back/Tight end/ Receiver/ Special teamer Taysum Hill. Not only did he block a punt, but he scored a touchdown through the air from 5 yards out and scampered in a 30-yard run all in the first half. He made sure to put his stamp on the game and it showed. So even if you hold All-Pro wideout Michael Thomas and contain Alvin Kamara’s versatile usage, the saints can find ways to run up the score and stop you. 

4. Seahawks ↑ 1

Russell Wilson has been doing it all year and once again showed up under the brightest lights to deliver another stellar performance. He threw for another two touchdowns, which now has him leading the league in that category again. While also keeping his team in prime position to move the chains and score. Not only did Russell do his part, but the tandem of Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny combined for 176 yards on the ground and a combined 3 touchdowns on the night. Add in the multiple turnovers the defense created for the offense and we got a team that is firing on all cylinders heading into the final four games of the season.

5. Packers ↑ 1

This decision was tough, but the Packers win over the Giants in a snowy East Rutherford showed why they are still among the best in the NFC. Rodgers had a Rodgers-esque day with four touchdowns and Davante Adams is starting to come back to his normal self as a great possession and red zone receiver. He scored twice on the day with the snow coming down hard. The running game may have taken a back seat this game, but the defense stepped up to the tune of three picks and a fumble on Daniel Jones. They made him uncomfortable all day and held him under 250 yards passing and one touchdown. The had been playing somewhat better the last few weeks, yet the Packers showed he is still a rookie in the league.

-By: Darren Braxton

Writer/Podcaster