2009 NFL Barometer: Week 14

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If you were lucky enough to still be in a survivor pool, you may not be any more. Cleveland shocked the Steelers this Thursday night, depriving the defending champions of any hope for the playoffs this year. The Super Bowl Hangover Theory strikes yet again. Cleveland ranks last this week, as utility-hook and I completed our rankings before the game, but with two ugly wins under their belt (their starting QBs completed a whopping seven passes combined in the two wins), they’re likely to climb out of the cellar next week.

Game of the week: Eagles at Giants? New York re-entered the divisional title race with a big win against Dallas, and the resulting domino effect placed Philadelphia in a tie with the Cowboys for the division lead. Another win by the Giants this week puts them one step closer to putting the mediocrity of the middle portion of the season behind them. A win by Philly establishes them as the favorite for the division title and the home playoff game that comes with it.

Rank	Change	TEAM	Avg Rank	D Z	U H
1		Indianapolis Colts (12-0)	1	1	1
This week: vs. DEN. The Broncos come to town on a nice roll and looking like a playoff team. The Colts just want to get healthy.
2		New Orleans Saints (12-0)	2	2	2
This week: at ATL. The Saints get the benefit of playing a Chris Redman-led Falcon team. Is 13-0 next?
3		Minnesota Vikings (10-2)	3	3	3
This week: vs. CIN. Fresh off a shocking embarrassment at the hands of the Cardinals, the Vikings face our No. 5 team next.
4		San Diego Chargers (9-3)	4	4	4
This week: at DAL. With the Broncos hanging out, San Diego needs to win late, something that hasn’t been a problem in recent history.
5		Cincinnati Bengals (9-3)	5	5	5
This week: at MIN. The Bengals generally play to their level of competition, so we should be in for a great game against the Vikes.
6		Arizona Cardinals (8-4)	6.5	7	6
This week: at SF. Arizona seems to be establishing themselves as contenders in the NFC, especially after demolishing Minnesota.
7		Green Bay Packers (8-4)	7	6	8
This week: at CHI. Unlikely to get many votes for the NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers is definitely in the mix for fantasy MVP.
8		Philadelphia Eagles (8-4)	7.5	8	7
This week: at NYG. Sometimes this team seems to win in spite of coach Andy Reid, yet the team handed him an extension this week.
9		Dallas Cowboys (8-4)	9	9	9
This week: vs. SD. Probably the quietest of Super Bowl contenders, the Chargers have won seven straight without causing a buzz.
10		Denver Broncos (8-4)	10	10	10
This week: at IND. With six of the Barometer’s top ten teams facing each other, this looks to be an excellent week of football.
11		New England Patriots (7-5)	11	11	11
This week: vs. CAR. Losing to the Brown-less Dolphins probably writes the Patriots off in most people’s minds.
12		New York Giants (7-5)	12	12	12
This week: vs. PHI. The running game was once the strength of this team, and Brandon Jacobs must pick it up in December.
13		Jacksonville Jaguars (7-5)	13	13	13
This week: vs. MIA. Despite being vastly outscored this season, the Jaguars have a leg up in the wild card race.
14		Baltimore Ravens (6-6)	14.5	14	15
This week: vs. DET. The offense may be reeling just a bit, but a visit from the Lions should cure all wounds.
15		Miami Dolphins (6-6)	14.5	15	14
This week: at JAC. A win over the current sixth-seed puts the Dolphins very much in the playoff hunt.
16		Pittsburgh Steelers (6-7)	16	16	16
This week: Loss at CLE. The Steelers have lost five straight, including games against the Chiefs, Raiders and Browns. Ouch.
17		New York Jets (6-6)	17.5	17	18
This week: at TB. The Rex Ryan defense should make short work of Josh Freeman and the Bucs this week. They need to keep pace.
18		Tennessee Titans (5-7)	18	19	17
This week: vs. STL. The improbable comeback story his a snag with a loss in Indianapolis, but 9-7 may be good enough to get in.
19		Atlanta Falcons (6-6)	18.5	18	19
This week: vs. NO. The season has quickly unraveled for the Falcons, and now they’ll have to knock off the Saints to stay in the race.
20		Chicago Bears (5-7)	21	22	20
This week: vs. GB. Maybe Kyle Orton wasn’t the problem? Injuries to the defense have doomed this team from the get-go.
21		Seattle Seahawks (5-7)	21.5	20	23
This week: at HOU. Two disappointing teams faces each other this week in this game, but the Seahawks are coming off two wins.
22		San Francisco 49ers (5-7)	22.5	23	22
This week: vs. ARI. Any outside hope the 49ers had of the playoffs was squashed with the loss to the Seahawks.
23		Houston Texans (5-7)	22.5	24	21
This week: vs. SEA. After starting the season 5-3, the Texans have lost four straight and Gary Kubiak is Fired Coach Walking.
24		Carolina Panthers (5-7)	22.5	21	24
This week: at NE. No D-Will, no problem for the Cats last week. A much tougher challenge awaits Matt Moore here.
25		Oakland Raiders (4-8)	25	25	25
This week: vs. WAS. I don’t mean to alarm you, but Bruce Gradkowski looks like Drew Brees compared to JaMarcus Russell.
26		Buffalo Bills (4-8)	26.5	27	26
This week: at KC. If the Washington-Oakland game can be labeled uninspiring, this one is downright yawn-errific.
27		Washington Redskins (3-9)	26.5	26	27
This week: at OAK. A win against the Saints may have actually given the Skins something to brag about this season. Alas.
28		Kansas City Chiefs (3-9)	28	28	28
This week: vs. BUF. Over/under on Jamaal Charles fantasy points in this one: 20. I’ll take the over.
29		Detroit Lions (2-10)	29.5	29	30
This week: at BAL. The good news is they’ve already eclipsed last year’s win total by two. Hooray, progress!
30		St. Louis Rams (1-11)	30	31	29
This week: at TEN. The Rams found a keeper in James Laurinaitis, giving them exactly three (Steven Jackson, Oshiomogho Atogwe).
31		Tampa Bay Buccaneers (1-11)	30.5	30	31
This week: vs. NYJ. Apparently it’s not a good idea to fire your offensive coordinator days before the start of the season. Who knew?
32		Cleveland Browns (2-11)	32	32	32
This week: Win vs. PIT. A chance on the national stage and the Browns again fail to make their … wait, they won? Seriously?