2013 Week 5
Last week we all went a little crazy. This week we're cooling down and sobering up, creating what I think is a pretty balanced Top 10. I'm still higher on the Packers than everyone else it seems (and I dropped them 4 spots!), but I think they'll come out of the bye week ready to take the fight to the upstart Lions. I wasn't as high on the Dolphins as everyone else, so they didn't drop far after their loss. The 49ers are back, gone last week more as a result of my purposeful overreaction. I'm thrilled to up the underdog-ish, playoff-bound Chiefs (I called it way back in February, just to be on the record), though I don't think their turnover differential will stay as high as it is, so I doubt a Top 5 push from them. The Bears are falling, but not as much as so many others downgraded them; they only lost one game people, chill. And then there's the Top 5, which you can read about below. So get to it. Hike!
Nipping at #10's heels: The Lions, Texans, & Bengals
Last Week: 6th
Top Ranking: 4th (Week 3)
9. Miami Dolphins
Last Week: 8th
Top Ranking: 8th (Week 4)
Last Week: --
Top Ranking: 1st (Pre-Draft, Preseason, Week 2)
7. Kansas City Chiefs
Last Week: 10th
Top Ranking: 7th (Week 5)
Last Week: 4th
Top Ranking: 4th (Week 4)
5. Indianapolis Colts
Last Week: 7th
Top Ranking: 5th (Week 5)
The Colts are pushing hard for a playoff run and I don't doubt they can do it. Trent Richard will definitely ease more smoothly into the team after last week's trial run where the Colts gained a lot of yards, but without much help from the running back. Luck continues to look elite; that's no surprise. What is a surprise is that the Colts are tied for first place in the division with the Titans; who'da thunk it?
Last Week: 5th
Top Ranking:1st (Pre-Free Agency)
After playing some ugly ball against some not-so-great quarterbacks, the Patriots finally came out and looked good earning a win; and one over the Falcons no less. This was an important game for the Pats, make no mistake, and it will serve as a confidence booster as they prepare for the Saints in two weeks. Vince Wilfork, a pillar of the team, is out for the season with a torn Achilles, but the running game looked sensational (partly because of how much bigger they were than the Falcons' defenders) and both Gronkowski and Amendola should be back soon, giving Brady more experienced passing options. Bill Belichick coaches his teams to get better as the season goes on as most teams start to feel the fatigue of so many games. The Pats aren't perfect by any means, they'll still have growing pains, but they just might hit their stride at just the right time.
3. New Orleans Saints
Last Week: 3rd
Top Ranking:3rd (Week 4, 5)
With Sean Payton back, the Saints are now major contenders, but, like the Seahawks, they're unproven on the road, which will be a major predictor of any regular season record.That will come into focus soon with back to back road games against the Bears and the Patriots. Brees looks great, the defense looks sturdy, but the missing piece here is the run game. The match-up against the Pats will be very telling for both teams.
Last Week: 1st
Top Ranking: 1st (Week 1, 3, 4)
It's great if the Seahawks can claw their way out of tough situations; a win is a win, right? True, but if you need that pressure to win, eventually it's going to catch up with you. A team is going to hold on to their lead. You might get too far behind to catch up. You'll botch a play you absolutely had to make that wouldn't have been so important if you had just gotten ahead to begin with. Seattle is certainly still a Top 3 team, but if the 'Hawks want to get back into the #1 spot, they need to decrease the mistakes, play harder/smarter in the first three quarters, give Wilson more time in the pocket, and let Marshawn Lynch just keep doing what he does (which would also take pressure off Wilson). #Recipe4Successs
1. Denver Broncos
Last Week: 2nd
Top Ranking: 1st (Week 5)
We were all waiting for the excuse to give the Broncos the number one spot and now we have it: the Seahawks have had close wins against the Panthers and Texans. The Broncos have had no close wins, only blowout wins. And that's what it takes for the #1 spot. My only question for the team is one of endurance; can they maintain such a high level of execution for another few months? Insert comment here about Peyton Manning's great regular season record as compared to his poor playoff record. You get where I'm going.
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