Welcome to the Ultimate Football Blog Week Twelve Power Rankings. Like most power rankings, this list is highly official and should never be doubted. If you disagree with it, you’re probably a moron.
(Also at UltimateFootballBlog.com)
Tom Brady and The New England Patriots have won seven straight games. Rob Gronkowski is back to being the most dominant tight end in the league, they are getting contributions from guys named Jonas Gray and Tim Wright, and their defense is playing pretty well.
Everyone is now picking the Patriots to win the Super Bowl because Brady “has that look in his eye” following a disappointing start to the season.
Not this guy.
Brady and company might be rolling right now, and based on their schedule they might only lose one more game this season, but they won’t win the Super Bowl.
Brady and his guys are on the same page right now, but it doesn’t take much to disrupt them. Gronkowski is always going to be effective as long as he’s healthy, but the rest of the offense is mediocre at best. I watched Brandon LaFell for many years in Carolina, he’ll have a good game here and there, but he’s going to shrink in a big game. Julian Edelman is a good slot receiver, but he’s not going to scare anyone and can be taken away by a good linebacker. The run game is another question mark. Sooner or later guys like Shane Vereen, Jonas Gray, and LeGarrette Blount will be exposed for being the mediocre running backs that they are.
Of course the easiest way to rattle the Patriots offense is to pressure Brady. We’ve seen it plenty of times over the years during the playoffs. When Brady faces pressure, he becomes ineffective. The Patriots offensive line isn’t bad, but sooner or later they will run into a defense that can back them up and get in Brady’s face.
Brady and Belichick have been a dominant duo for many years in the NFL, but they haven’t won a Super Bowl since 2004-2005 despite making the playoffs every year that Brady has been healthy since then. They always look good in the regular season. They always have double digit wins. And they always falter in the playoffs. This year will be no different.
1. Odell Beckham Jr. Catch
You’ve seen it a million times by now. Beckham Jr. turns a sure INT into a brilliant TD catch as he reached back with one hand and somehow grabbed the ball with just his fingertips. It’s not “the greatest catch ever” (that will always be The Helmet Catch) but it’s damn good. Add Beckham Jr. to the list of outstanding rookie wide receivers.
2. Clutch Tony Romo
HE DOES EXIST!
3. The Colt McCoy Movement
FREE COLT MCCOY! FREE COLT MCCOY! FREE COLT MCCOY
4. The Elite Three
Brady, Manning, and Rodgers threw for a combined 815 yards, eight touchdowns, and one interception. Every week they prove why they’re the best.
5. Tim Wright
No one knew who is guy was when the Patriots traded Logan Mankins for him in the offseason. Leave it to the Pats to turn a mediocre player into a great player for a week or two.
6. C.J. Anderson
He’s only getting carries because the Broncos have no other healthy running backs, but he definitely made the most of those carries this week, rushing for 167 yards and a touchdown.
7. Robert Griffin III Back To St. Louis?
I’m just going to start this rumor. RG3 isn’t working out in Washington and the Rams need a quarterback. Why don’t the Rams trade for RG3? Remember it was their draft pick that they traded to the Redskins so they could take RG3. Now they have a chance to get him for a extremely reduced price. How genius would they be if they got RG3 for a third round pick?
8. The INT Battle
Blake Bortles was off his bye week and back to throwing interceptions.
9. T.Y. Hilton
Four catches for 122 yards and touchdown. Plus he dedicated his touchdown to his newborn daughter. It’s easy to do these things when you play the Jaguars.
10. Josh Gordon
Gordon returned from his suspension to post eight catches for 120 yards. This would’ve been more impressive if it didn’t come against a NFC South team.
11. Snow
I LOVE SNOW! Buffalo fans probably hate it right now, but it’s not like they were going to watch the Bills vs. Jets anyway.
20. Thanksgiving Games
Who doesn’t love ignoring their family while watching football? This ranking will be a lot lower next week when all the Thanksgiving games end up sucking.
32. Michael Vick
You know you played bad when you get replaced by Geno Smith, the man who this spot was invented for.
100. Sunday Night Football
Hey look, it’s a game that didn’t suck.
150. Dominic Raiola
Ok, so The Patriots went for a garbage time touchdown when they were already leading. That’s no excuse to cut block a guy when your team is going for a kneel down. Of course since the NFL makes up the rules as they go along, Raiola won’t be punished, but had he blown out the knee of a Patriots player, I guarantee there would be repercussions.
222. Mike Smith’s Game Management
I don’t care if the Falcons win the NFC South, Mike Smith should be fired after this season. He’s clearly not a competent head coach.
300. Johnny Manziel
Brian Hoyer threw three interceptions, but luckily he was playing a team from the NFC South. So he was able to bounce back and lead the Browns on a game-winning drive. Sorry, Johnny. Manziel was ranked a little higher, but then he decided to be dumb and get into a hotel fight. This kid will never play a meaningful NFL snap.
500. The Kansas City Chiefs
I don’t care if it was a Thursday night game, how you gonna lose to the Oakland Raiders?
1000. Jonas Gray
He was ranked #1 last week, but he’s #1000 this week because he overslept. Them’s the breaks, kid.
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