All I Want for Christmas is a Playoff Spot

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2013 Week 17

This past Sunday was a lot more fun than the last, making the holiday season a little bit brighter. Well, aside from fans of teams that lost I suppose. This may be especially true for fans of the Kansas City Chiefs, whose embarrassing loss to the Indianapolis Colts dropped them out of my Top 10, despite placing at #6 last week. Frankly, I'm just fed up with them and, although I'm still a bit fan of their underdog season, have lost faith that they can truly compete with the NFL's elite teams. Creeping up on the list are the underestimated San Diego Chargers and, with the return of Aaron Rodgers and Eddie Lacy, the Green Bay Packers. But where do the teams who made the Top 10 rank? Let's get to it; hike!

Nipping at #10's heels: The Chiefs & Chargers

Anyone Else Have a Bad Week?

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2013 Week 16

Honestly, last week in football wasn't great for me. My 'Skins lost. My Patriots lost. After being the only one in my picks competition (and maybe in the world) to have the balls to correctly pick the Chargers to beat the Broncos, I was let down by a lot of other teams I picked - seriously Cowboys, you lose a 23 point lead?!? - seriously Lions, you lose to a team that didn't score a single touchdown?!? Anyways, many of the Top 10 teams also experienced let-downs, but since there were enough disappoints to go around, there weren't many changes up and down the board, but there were a couple big ones! So let's get to it; hike!

Nipping at #10's heels: The Ravens & Colts

It's the Final Countdown

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2013 Week 15

Da da, da-da da da. Da da, da-da da da... You get it. It's the final countdown towards the end of the season and games are never more important. Never more important is the health of players for that matter, something to discuss when talking about the Patriots below. The Colts are out of the Top 10 following their embarrassing loss on Sunday. Not sure if we'll see them back in the Power Rankings this year. A team we might see are da Bears, coming off an impressive win against the Cowboys. If the Cardinals struggle, Chicago might make a return to the list. But what about the teams in the Top 10: the Cardinals, Broncos, Bengals, Seahawks, Chiefs, 49ers, Eagles, Saints, Patriots, and Panthers; how did they rank? Let's get to it; hike!

Nipping at #10's heels: The Colts and Bears

The Month that Matters

Unscripted NFL Power Rankings
2013 Week 14

December. The month that matters. Every game counts. Playoff hopes hang in the balance. This is why we watch football.

Short sentences aside, this truly is an exciting time of the year in the NFL. There are an astounding number of teams still in the race for Wild Card spots, and even division titles. I even consider the #10 spot in my rankings to be a bit of a three-way tie, with the edge going to the Colts for having been in the Top 10 before (unlike the Cowboys) - and getting as far as #1 for a week - and having won this past week (unlike the Cardinals). The Bengals continue to win games, due in large part to their running game and despite the shaky play of their quarterback. The Eagles, despite losing the tie-breaker to the Cowboys for first place in the NFC East, have started to look like one of the most well-rounded teams in football (get excited for their rematch against the 'Boys in the very last week of the regular season).

The sliding Chiefs have a chance to reverse their momentum with upcoming games against Washington and the Raiders. And then there is the enigma that is the Saints. They're a better team than we saw in Monday's ugly loss to the Seahawks, but twice in the next three weeks they will play a Panthers team that often looks a lot like the 'Hawks: "a physical, stifling defense, a power run game and a mobile dual-threat quarterback" (Mike Triplett). So where do all these teams, along with the 49ers, Seahawks, Panthers, Broncos, and Patriots, rank? Let's get to it; hike!

Nipping at #10's heels: The Cardinals and Cowboys