Guess Who's Back? Back Again!/ NFL Power Poll

After taking a three-plus year sabatical, I am back blogging here on The Big Red Citgo Sign. Hopefully, this time around there will be much more content, weekly updates, and general comedy in the wide world of sports. The goal, for now, is to have at least a weekly NFL Power Poll and a weekly fantasy football column, along with other occassional posts, rants, columns, and opinions. So, without further ado, the first NFL Power Poll!

1. New York Giants (5-1)
I am not completely sold on this team yet. It may be sour grapes from last season, it may be that I think Eli Manning is the luckiest quarterback in the league, or it may be that they have played some pretty terrible teams, including losing to Cleveland. The only decent team that have beaten is Washington in week 1. But, with all the hiccups by good teams this year, the champs are still at the top until there is a definitive clear-cut top team. They play at Pittsburgh this week. This will be the toughest challenge they will have faced so far this season.

2. Tennessee Titans (6-0)
This team seems to be following the old formula of the 2000 Baltimore Ravens. Great defense and a good ground game. The Titans are undefeated because of their Top 3 defense and because of their Top 5 rushing game. They have beaten some decent opponents (Baltimore, Minnesota, Jacksonville), but they still have Kerry Collins as the starting quarterback and a receiving corp led by Bo Scaife. A Monday Night Football win against Indianapolis this week will put Tennessee in cruise control for the rest of the season.

3. Tampa Bay Bucs (5-2)
Talk about a team flying under the radar this season. The Bucs boast a Top 10 defense, but it has been the play of the offense that has allowed Tampa to succeed this season. Who would have thought that an offense led by Brian Griese and a feuding Jeff Garcia-Jon Gruden would be a Top 10 offense, including the number 8 ranked passing offense in the league? They do not really have any bad losses this season (at New Orleans, at Denver) and have good wins including an overtime win at Chicago and home wins against Green Bay and Carolina. A win this Sunday against Dallas could finally bring some recognition to Tampa Bay.

4. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-1)
This was a team that I thought, preseason, would make it to the AFC Championship game. So far, that prediction is looking pretty good. The staple of Pittsburgh football has always been bone-crushing defense and smashmouth running game. Well, Pittsburgh still boasts the best defense in the league. However, the backfield has had some serious issues, losing Willie Parker for an extended period of time, and his backup, rookie Rashard Mendenhall being put on Injured Reserve for the rest of the season. Parker should be returning soon, which will provide some relief for Ben Roethlisberger, who has been one of the most sacked quarterbacks in the league. The only blemish on their record is a loss to cross-state rival Philadelphia. This weeks home game against the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants will provide the Steelers toughest test to date.

5. Buffalo Bills (5-1)
I do not think many would have predicted that the Bills would be top team in the AFC East before the season started. A good offense, and a better defense has helped the Bills mop up some of the dregs they have played (i.e. St. Louis, Oakland, Seattle). While they are 5-1, the lone defeat being against the Arizona Cardinals, the records of teams the Bills have beaten are a combined 11-20. Marshawn Lynch has not lived up to expectations this season, but Trent Edwards has played better than anyone could have imagined. Lee Evans is emerging as a top WR in the league.

6. Washington Redskins (5-2)
A bit overrated, but they still have five wins. After a week 1 loss to the Giants, the Redskins went on a roll winning the next four games including road wins over rivals Dallas and Philadelphia. However, they did lay an egg in a home loss to the lowly Rams in week 6. Santana Moss is having a terrific season, and Jason Campbell is finally developing into a good quarterback. You cannot mention this Redskins team though without talking about Clinton Portis. He has been otherworldly so far this season. They somehow have a better defense than offense, which I find hard to believe. But the numbers do not lie, and the defense is ranked number 6. I think a great passing offense can expose Shawn Springs and Fred Smoot. A game against Detroit this week will surely pad the offensive stats.

7. Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
Even though Matt Leinart has been a huge bust (think Ryan Leaf, only without being crazy and being more of a Hollywood star than football star), Arizona has had one of the best offenses in the league. Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald are the best WR duo in the league, hands down. Kurt Warner has put up ridiculous numbers this year, including 472 yards in a week 4 loss to the Jets. This team plays in the worst division in football (NFC West) and has essentially clinched a playoff spot already. St. Louis, San Francisco, and Seattle have a combined 5 wins, Arizona has 4. I do not think they will pose any serious threat to the Cardinals making the postseason for the first time in a long time.

8. Dallas Cowboys (4-3)
O-VER RA-TED cha cha chacha cha. This team was picked by all football pundits to be a lock for the Super Bowl. They started out 3-0, but then lost 3 of four, including a loss to the Rams. What is the problem here? A mingling owner in Jerry Jones? An bumbling happy-go-lucky coach who makes Charlie Manuel look like a Rhodes Scholar in Wade Phillips? A certified lunatic in Terrel Owens? A quarterback who people think is the next Brett Favre, except he only has Favre's negative attributes (ability to turn the ball over at the worst time, all the time) in Tony Romo? I do not know the answer, but America's team is in the toilet right now and is going to struggle to make the playoffs.

9. Carolina Panthers (5-2)
Jake Delhomme still stinks, but they have played great defense all year long, gaining the number 4 defensive ranking. I never understand why John Fox was considered one of the best coaches in the league. After making the Super Bowl five years ago, this franchise has been mediocre at best. Overall, they have beaten some decent opponents and still have some cupcakes left on the schedule. As long as Delhomme doesn't kill them, they should be a playoff team.

10. Chicago Bears (4-3)
Who would of thought that Kyle Orton would provide the Bears with so much firepower that the Bears offense would outproduce the Bears defense? Orton has been great this year, passing for over 280 yards in three straight games including 334 in week 5. Imagine if Lovey had played Orton instead of Rex (cringe) Grossman two seasons ago. The Bears could have beaten the Colts and it would not have started a streak where Mannings would win back-to-back Super Bowls. I think I'll go throw up now.

11. Philadelphia Eagles (3-3)
They are last in the NFC East, but I still think they are the best team in the division. They lost Brian Westbrook, their best player, for a few weeks. He should be back and this team will be back to putting up a ton of points. McNabb is having a renaissance season. This team still makes the playoffs.

12. New England Patriots (4-2)
If this team had a theme song, it would be Helter Skelter. Just an absolute rollarcoaster ride with this team. Cassel should have been cut in the preseason, managed to hang around, and lucked into being an NFL starting QB in week 1. Managing a game will not be enough for Cassel to lead the Patriots back to the postseason. He will have to make plays. The secondary is very weak and can be overmatched easily. The defense, as a whole, gives up a lot of big plays that end up killing them. If I had to compare two players on the defense to a famous musical couple, it would be Jerrod Mayo as Ike Turner, laying big hits, and Deltha O'Neil as Tina Turner, getting beat all day long.

13. Atlanta Falcons (4-2)
Surprise of the season! A pretty decent offense, led by a great running game. Matt Ryan looks like the real deal. He is confident and poised and does not seem to hurt the team, which is something to be said for a rookie quarterback starting in his first season. Ryan will make ATL forget about the Crime Dawg--Michael Vick.

14. Minnesota Vikings (3-4)
A very disappointing season. Many thought the Vikings would be tops in the NFC North. But who were we all kidding? They went into the season with Tavaris Jackson as their quarterback! As a Patriots fan, this is the only team that I am not jealous of their quarterback situation.

15. Green Bay Packers (4-3)
Aaron Rodgers started out hot, but has cooled off a bit. Overall he has done a very good job. After watching Favre and the Jets, I think most Packers fans would agree that it was the right move to give Rodgers the job.

16. Baltimore Ravens (3-3)
Another great defense, led by Ray Lewis and Terrell Suggs. This team, especially the defense, reminds me of a bunch of criminals. I don't know why, but this team has a bad attitude (in a good way, if that makes sense). Would you really want to be in a dark alley with any of these guys? I wouldn't. News of a possible bounty by the Ravens on Steelers players could give them some trouble with General Goodell. Flacco looks pretty decent for a rookie QB.

17. New York Jets (3-3)
I really do hate this team. They were terrible last year. Off season improvements? Go out and overpay for a 2001 Pro Bowl roster. Eric Mangini was labelled "Mangenius" after season one. Now he looks like a terrible coach, nevermind a fat, dirty, backstabbing, rat. After another mediocre season this year and next year, he will be fired.

18. New Orleans Saints (3-4)
This team has underperformed, although Reggie Bush has had a much, much better season this year. After Katrina, Sean Payton and the Saints became America's feel good story. If this team cannot rebound from a slow start (Colston and Shockey should be back eventually), Coach Payton has to be blamed. This team has too much talent to not be in the playoffs.

19. Houston Texans (2-4)
When will this team finally get over the hump? Your guess is as good as mine. Matt Schaub is not the answer at QB. Steve Slaton has been waaaay better than anticipated. Andre Johnson is the best unknown receiver in the league. Mario Williams was the right pick.

20. Denver Broncos (4-3)
Probably the best team in the AFC West. Jay Cutler has a big arm and the offense can put points up with the best of them. However, the defense is terrible and can be scored on at will. Mike Shanahan looks skeezy. I don't like him or the Broncos.

21. Jacksonville Jaguars (3-3)
Should be much better. I don't understand why they haven't won more games. They have played one of the tougher schedules to date. A bunch of creampuffs coming up should help improve their record.

22. Indianapolis Colts (3-3)
This team looks bad. They always had a bad defense, but I would not have imagined in my wildest dreams the offense producing so little. Peyton Manning must be recovering from offseason surgery still. Once he is right again, this team will be right again. Injuries to the backfield have hurt too. No Joseph Addai, no Mike Hart, no running game.

23. Miami Dolphins (2-4)
Better than anticipated, but still not good. A college offense might work for a few plays in the NFL, but it will not work over the long haul. There is a reason why some offenses are exclusive to college, and now we are seeing why. I wish Chad Pennington was wearing a Patriots jersey though.

24. San Diego Chargers (3-4)
This crybaby team looks bad. They have had some tough losses (DENVER!) but this might be the most talented offense in the AFC and they are led by an "offensive mastermind" in Norv Turner, yet they are under .500 Norv is a dreadful coach, but a great coordinator, who somehow manages to talk owners into giving him head coaching jobs. LT is a baby. Toughen up. Turf toe? Really? Walter Payton is turning in his grave.

25. Cleveland Browns (2-4)
Derek Anderson was a one-hit wonder. Still waiting for the golden boy, Brady Quinn, to start some games for the Browns. Romeo Crennel might have one more season left before he is fired.

26. Oakland Raiders (2-4)
The best thing for this franchise and it's dedicated fans would be no more Al Davis.

27. St. Louis Rams (2-4)
Which team is this? The one that lost the first four? Or the one that won the last two? Steven Jackson is starting to look like Steven Jackson. Still a bad team, but how bad are they?

28. San Francisco 49ers (2-5)
Missing on Alex Smith with the first pick really set this franchise back, nevermind the fact that the pick cost Mike Nolan his job. Patrick Willis is a beast.

29. Seattle Seahawks (1-5)
Mike Holmgren was supposed to take a one year sabatical following this season. I think that sabatical started four months early. This team is terrible.

30. Kansas City Chiefs (1-5)
Honestly, how does Herm Edwards still have a job? He may be a nice guy, but he might be the worse coach in the league.

31. Cincinnati Bengals (0-7)
Sorry Herm! I made a mistake. Marvin Lewis is the worst coach in the league that still has a job. In all seriousness, this team stinks, but they do seem to be playing hard for Lewis. I guess that is worth something.

32. Detroit Lions (0-6)
Sad, sad franchise. The best thing that has happened to this team in the past ten years was the resignation of Matt Millen. Of the four receivers he drafted in the first round, one is still with the team. ONE. Terrible.