Franz’s 2013 NFL Power Poll: Week 12
Nov 21, 2013, 9:45 PM | Updated: Apr 28, 2015, 2:00 pm
1) DENVER BRONCOS (2): On any other team it’s not a story, but considering the importance Peyton puts on practice it will be interesting to see the affect…1-0 in the brutal 3-game stretch (vs. KC, at NE and at KC.)
2) KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (1): Opposing QBs have dropped back 90 straight times against the without getting sacked…Smith averages 5.5 yards/carry but 10.4 against Denver, look for more of that next week.
3) SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (4): Liar…They’re good, but there’s a lot of luck too with the second-most fumbles in the league but recovering the majority of their own fumbles before they become turnovers.
4) NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (5): (Huge loss considering Rob Ryan can’t do his magic without CBs that can hold up…I never thought I’d say this three months ago but they must be careful to not look past Atlanta.
5) CAROLINA PANTHERS (6): First time since 2008 they’ve been in the “Power 5″…bad rule, right call = get over it Pats.
6) NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (3): Offense gets no help as only two teams have scored fewer defensive/special teams TDs…rest of schedule after SNF has a combined record of 19-32.
7) INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (9): Seven first-half TDs with Reggie Wayne and zero since Wayne’s season-ending knee injury…since Richardson trade, he’s averaging 2.8 yards/carry while his “backup,” Donald Brown, averages 6.1.
8) CINCINNATI BENGALS (12): One of the best teams at protecting the QB from getting hit but average at giving up sacks, meaning Dalton is not getting the ball out.
9) DETROIT LIONS (7): Dan Marino, Kurt Warner and Johnny Unitas are the only quarterbacks to throw 100 TD passes in fewer games than Mathew Stafford…Where do you rank a team that sweeps Chicago but can’t beat Pittsburgh?
10) CHICAGO BEARS (10): Is this good news or bad news?
11) SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS (8): Too many offensive weapons to only be converting 38% of their 3rd downs…very odd to convert 80% of red zone possessions on the road into TDs but only 43% at home.
12) ARIZONA CARDINALS (11): Streak of 22 straight games with a turnover ended in Jacksonville…facing a team that’s only fumbled six times.
13) DALLAS COWBOYS (15): Rarely does a team move up with a loss, but Saints are great and everyone around them lost toO…only team in the NFL to never attempt a fourth-down conversion.
14) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (16): McCoy is the NFL’s leading rusher…gets a bye before Cardinals game which will be a huge game in all NFC tie-breakers.
15) NEW YORK GIANTS (19): Before you count them out of the division, remember they still have their Cowboys home game this week and haven’t played the woeful Redskins at all…as you could guess, the winning streak coincides with fixing the turnovers (+3).
16) MIAMI DOLPHINS (20): 41 sacks given up…you can’t tell me this isn’t a distraction.
17) PITTSBURGH STEELERS (21): IF they go 2-0 at Cleveland and then at Baltimore on a short week, then we must put them in the playoff talk…still can’t believe we live in a world where only two teams rush the ball worse than Pittsburgh.
18) NEW YORK JETS (14): Five percent of all throws are INTs while 28 teams are below 4 percent…thus the 31st ranking of 18 points/game.
19) GREEN BAY PACKERS (13): -2 in turnover ratio before the losing streak and -6 now…with very winnable home games against Minnesota and Atlanta, why not accept the loss in Detroit on Thanksgiving and have Rodgers healthy for the last three to make a playoff run?
20) BALTIMORE RAVENS (17): Three straight home games (Jets, Steelers, Vikings) could put them at 7-6…this news and that schedule could put them in the playoffs.
21) CLEVELAND BROWNS (18): There has to be a way to turn this into a test at the combine if some watch movies and ignore while others are screaming.
22) ST. LOUIS RAMS (24): Of course, brothers have played against each other in the NFL, but rarely do you get direct competition (OL) Kyle Long vs. (DL) Chris Long.
23) OAKLAND RAIDERS (26): I ripped the pick then and I mock them now…do you think we’ll ever live in a world when they’re not in the top five in penalties?
24) BUFFALO BILLS (28): Speaking of penalties, Buffalo is not good enough to overcome being fourth.
25) WASHINGTON REDSKINS (22): London Fletcher started his 209th consecutive game, the longest streak by a linebacker in NFL history…despite less read-option, Morris is still third in rushing yards.
26) TENNESSEE TITANS (23): 4-6 in the AFC is right in the thick of it but losing both games of a two-game home stand before a three-game road trip has ended any playoff hopes.
27) SAN DIEGO CHARGERS (25): Giving up the fewest first downs by penalty…will go from 4-3 to 5-11.
28) MINNESOTA VIKINGS (27): Worst third-down defense…only one team left on schedule with a losing record and Baltimore will, probably, be off that list when Minnesota goes to Maryland.
29) TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (31): You can’t get me to believe a majority of his teammates agree with this…in five of his first seven starts as a pro, Mike Glennon QB rating has gone up from the week prior.
30) ATLANTA FALCONS (29): Only players in NFL history with at least 50 receptions a year for 16 straight years are Jerry Rice and Tony Gonzalez…as if it could get worse but their 32nd in protecting their punter.
31) HOUSTON TEXANS (30): Giving up a non-offensive TD almost every game.
32) JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS (32): It could be even worse, their opponents have only recovered three of the 12 Jacksonville fumbles.
