Statsational Week 9 Power Rankings

On the whole the league continues to be dominated by the NFC.  No AFC division ranks higher than an NFC division.  But the AFC seems to be getting dragged down on the bottom of the conference.  The AFC has the 8 worse teams and 3 of the top 4, including the Denver Broncos who remain in the top spot. The NFC North remains the top Division in football with no team under .500.  The AFC South is the worst having 3 of the bottom 7 teams in that division.

Denver remains in the top spot with a nice road win at Cincinnati.  That game was one of the tougher games Denver has left on its schedule.  The remaining teams left for Denver are a combined 23-42 including the 6-2 Baltimore Ravens.  The schedule strength may start to move them down a bit in the rankings if they are not dominating those games but as long as they are winning it should not be by much.  This week Denver faces Carolina and is a 4 point favorite on the road.

Chicago makes it in to the top 5 knocking out the New York Giants.  The Giants lose at home, where they have not played well all year, to Pittsburgh last week.  Chicago showed why they may be the best defense in the league, at least at turning the ball over and scoring.  The Bears put up 51 on Tennessee getting 5 turnovers, scoring on 1 of them and adding a blocked punt for a TD.  The Bears are +16 in turnovers in just 8 games played.  When teams are +2 in turnovers in a game they win 84% of the time.  You can see why the Bears are 7-1.  This week the Bears have a huge matchup with Houston on Sunday night.

The only undefeated team in the league, the Atlanta Falcons, just miss the top 5.  They are in 6th after a win over Dallas on Sunday night.  Atlanta's 18th ranked strength of schedule coupled with many very close wins is not impressing the computers.  You wonder how long Atlanta can keep this up.  They are the 7th ranked offense and 11th ranked defense.  Very solid numbers but they are not going to scare any of the top 10 teams in the league.  They get division rival New Orleans this week.

Looking at the teams in the top 10 you could make a case for any of them winning a Super Bowl right now.  Dallas may be the one stretch but if the Cowboys turn around a -11 turnover ratio, they too could become a serious contender.  That is a big if however.

Game of the Week
Houston @ Chicago -1
The Houston Texans rank 3rd overall, 4th in defense, and 8th in offense.  Chicago ranks 5th overall, 6th in defense and 10th in offense.  These teams are very evenly matched.  The biggest mismatch in the game is Chicago ranked 27th in passing offense, the Texans are ranked 12th in passing defense.  The Bears will try and run it but Houston ranks 3rd in rushing defense.  The Bears strength has been turnovers but Houston is +8 in that category. 

Worst Game of the Week
Indianapolis @ Jacksonville +3
Indianapolis is coming off an emotional win as their head coach, Chuck Pagano, was able to attend a game in person for the first time since being diagnosed with cancer.  Jacksonville once again looked bad in a loss at home to Detroit.  Both teams come in near the bottom of the rankings despite Indy's 5-3 record.  The problem with the Colts is they have played the 31st schedule in the league so far.  And this week it gets worse.  The Colts strength is their passing offense ranked 7th.  The Jags have been about average in stopping the pass.  Their is interest in the game because of Luck and the Colts trying to get to 6-3 but these are the two worst teams playing each other this week.

Biggest Mismatch
Buffalo @ New England -11
New England ranks 4th overall against the 29th ranked Bills.  New England is the top offense in the league and Buffalo is the 31st defense.  The models are looking for a big day from the Pats offense.  194 yards rushing and 309 yards passing.  Buffalo should be able to move the ball but it may be because they are down early.

Byes
Arizona, Cleveland, Green Bay, Washington,

Rank	Teams	Power Rating
1	Denver	30.09
2	San Francisco	29.76
3	Houston	27.38
4	New England	27.24
5	Chicago	26.20
6	Atlanta	25.74
7	NY Giants	25.30
8	Pittsburgh	25.23
9	Green Bay	24.84
10	Dallas	24.65
11	Seattle	24.11
12	Detroit	23.71
13	Tampa Bay	21.49
14	Carolina	21.31
15	Baltimore	21.08
16	NY Jets	20.87
17	Washington	20.34
18	Miami	20.27
19	San Diego	20.25
20	Minnesota	19.87
21	Philadelphia	19.85
22	Arizona	19.53
23	St. Louis	19.30
24	New Orleans	18.53
25	Cincinnati	18.15
26	Indianapolis	17.73
27	Oakland	17.68
28	Cleveland	15.65
29	Buffalo	14.86
30	Tennessee	14.44
31	Kansas City	14.35
32	Jacksonville	12.60

Rank	Teams	Strength Of Schedule
1	Dallas	23.93
3	Seattle	23.38
2	St. Louis	23.28
4	Carolina	23.25
5	NY Jets	22.86
6	NY Giants	22.71
7	Tennessee	22.51
8	Denver	22.41
9	Arizona	22.35
10	Jacksonville	21.95
11	Philadelphia	21.85
12	San Francisco	21.68
13	Green Bay	21.61
14	Washington	21.58
15	New Orleans	21.57
16	Oakland	21.20
17	Buffalo	21.15
18	Atlanta	21.13
19	Pittsburgh	20.97
20	Detroit	20.93
21	New England	20.56
22	Baltimore	20.54
23	Minnesota	20.42
24	Miami	20.20
25	Tampa Bay	20.14
26	Cincinnati	20.13
27	Houston	19.86
28	Kansas City	19.85
29	Chicago	19.84
30	Cleveland	19.79
31	Indianapolis	19.34
32	San Diego	18.68

NFC East	22.54	W	L
NY Giants	25.30	6	3
Dallas	24.65	3	5
Washington	20.34	3	6
Philadelphia	19.85	3	5
NFC North	23.65	W	L
Chicago	26.20	7	1
Green Bay	24.84	6	3
Detroit	23.71	4	4
Minnesota	19.87	5	4
NFC South	21.77	W	L
Atlanta	25.74	8	0
Tampa Bay	21.49	4	4
Carolina	21.31	2	6
New Orleans	18.53	3	5
NFC West	23.17	W	L
San Francisco	29.76	6	2
Seattle	24.11	5	4
Arizona	19.53	4	5
St. Louis	19.30	3	5
AFC East	20.81	W	L
New England	27.24	5	3
NY Jets	20.87	3	5
Miami	20.27	4	4
Buffalo	14.86	3	5
AFC North	20.03	W	L
Pittsburgh	25.23	5	3
Baltimore	21.08	6	2
Cincinnati	18.15	3	5
Cleveland	15.65	2	7
AFC South	18.04	W	L
Houston	27.38	7	1
Indianapolis	17.73	5	3
Tennessee	14.44	3	6
Jacksonville	12.60	1	7
AFC West	20.59	W	L
Denver	30.09	5	3
San Diego	20.25	4	4
Oakland	17.68	3	5
Kansas City	14.35	1	7

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