Mid-Season Power Rankings

 


We're halfway through the biggest NFL season ever, so it seems the right time to see what we've learned. In this post, I'll be offering my Top 3 for each conference. Sunday, I'll be looking at my mid-season award picks.

AFC Power Rankings:
1. Tennessee Titans (7-2). The Titans are the biggest surprise in the NFL. I thought they'd be a playoff team and would win the AFC South, but I had them as a 10 or 11 win team. They are 7-2, atop the conference and the only AFC Contender that seems to be handling all comers. Every time you count them out, they roar back with a win, beating the Chiefs, Bills and Rams, and sweeping their division rivals the Colts along the way.
2. Buffalo Bills (5-3). The Bills were my Super Bowl pick from the AFC and I would hope to see them continue to win and make a run at that, but it hasn't been pretty. The Bills have a couple signature wins, but more troubling is the big losses, including a 9-6 loss to the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars last week. Buffalo needs to do better, but the AFC feels wide open.
3. Baltimore Ravens (6-3). The Ravens had their own brutal loss on Thursday, falling 22-10 to the Dolphins. That gives me pause, as the Ravens have played three mediocre to poor games in a row. Still, they have the second best record in the AFC and I think they turn it around. The AFC is going to be wild down the stretch.

NFC Power Rankings:
1. Los Angeles Rams (7-2). Yes, the Rams lost last week, looking bad at times against the Titans. But you have to consider the quality of the competition. I love the Rams' roster and I think they are still the team to beat in the NFC.
2. Green Bay Packers (7-2). The Packers had a stumble last week as Aaron Rodgers was out of the lineup, but he should be back now. They are still the only team to beat the Cardinals and have been to two straight NFC Title games. They are contenders.
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-2). Narrowing to three in the NFC was hard because there are five really good teams. That makes it a bit of a flip from the AFC where, Titans aside, I'd put five NFC Teams over anyone in that conference. For the last slot I went with the defending champs, who are still rolling along pretty good. It was a tough call given how impressed I've been by the Cowboys and Cardinals, but it comes down to Tom Brady and coaching experience.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Burial a courtroom drama with heart

Image
Willie Gary (Jamie Foxx) is a brash trial lawyer who is good at rallying a jury to his cause. Jeremiah O’Keefe (Tommy Lee Jones) is a quiet grandfather who is trying to ensure the business his family built remains viable after he’s gone. These two don’t appear to have much in common on the surface. But when they’re brought together by young lawyer Hal Dockins (Mamoudou Athie) brings them together, a connection is formed over their shared background of working hard to become self-made men. And it turned out that Willie was just who Jerry needed in his corner to win the fight of his life. The new Prime Video film The Burial, which opened in theaters October 6 and started streaming October 13, captures that trial against the Loewen Group that changed the course of their lives. The film is based on the true story and covers the trial, but more importantly captures the relationship between the men. The film plays out like a traditional courtroom drama. Foxx is solid as Willie Gary, while Ju...
Read more

Broncos Draft Targets

Image
  The NFL Draft is just a few days away. On April 25, the Denver Broncos will head into the draft in the midst of something of a rebuild. In the draft, the Broncos have the No. 12 pick in Round 1, then have a Third Round Pick, Fourth Round Pick, three Fifth Round Picks, a Sixth Round Pick, and a Seventh Round Pick. So, what might they be targeting? Let's dive in and look at possible positions. Quarterback : The team clearly needs a long-term quarterback. Jarrett Stidham and Ben DiNucci are there but the team could certainly use someone else. Could they move up for Drake Maye or J.J. McCarthy? Yes, they could. Will the take Bo Nix at 12? It's possible. Or will the Broncos wait until next off-season to make a move? Anything is in play for the Broncos in 2024, but quarterback is surely a need. Tight End: The team brought back Adam Trautman and still has Greg Dulcich, but it's still a need. Dulcich hasn't been able to get on the field and Trautman hasn't been great. Co...
Read more

Favorite Westerns, No. 43

Image
  Do you like a good Western? It's a classic genre in film and this year I've decided to look at some of my favorite Westerns. So, join me each Friday as I count down my favorite Westerns from No. 50 to No. 1. Rooster Cogburn : [ watching Mattie ford the river hanging on the back of her horse] By God. She reminds me of me. True Grit (1969) Starring : John Wayne, Kim Darby, Glen Campbell, Robert Duvall, and Dennis Hopper Director : Henry Hathaway About: This is the third straight week with a film from Wayne. As you might guess, we're not done. As I've mentioned, he sets a standard for the genre. Here, we seen him bring to life an iconic character. This one is based on a novel, and it has endured. He's great as Rooster Cogburn, so good that he got a sequel in the same character. But this is a later film in his career. This is a different, more grizzled Wayne. He's still quite good and this is a film that really has stood the test of time. It's not the only ve...
Read more